Transcript

LIVE: Ex-FBI Agent Makes STUNNING MOVE against MAGA…in TEXAS

From MeidasTouch · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 35 min · 7,164 words · 66 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "LIVE: Ex-FBI Agent Makes STUNNING MOVE against MAGA…in TEXAS", an episode of MeidasTouch published February 7, 2026 (35 min, about 7,164 words). It mentions 10 people, works and ideas, including Tony Box, DOJ, FP Wellman, Donald Trump, Texas.

What this episode is about

The discussion highlights concerns regarding public perception of the economy ahead of the upcoming election, revealing that a growing majority of Americans believe the economy is worsening under the current administration. Key polling data indicates that the American public prioritizes lowering prices as their primary concern, significantly more than issues like immigration control or crime reduction, suggesting a disconnect between the administration's focus and the needs of the electorate.

Key takeaways

  • When 55% see the economy worsening, any president's reelection hopes should start calling for a lifeboat.
  • Priorities skewed: 54% want lower prices, while immigration and crime barely register—time for a reality check, folks!
  • Trump's economic promises are like a mirage—great from afar, but up close? Just another disappointment.
  • Data shows immigrants contribute more than they take. Yet, scapegoating them is the GOP’s go-to economic strategy.
  • Democrats hold a 14-point edge on affordability. In politics, when independents love your opponent, it's a sinking ship.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Donald Trump, Scott Bassant
  2. – 10:00: Tony Box, FP Wellman, Donald Trump, Minnesota
  3. – 15:00: Minnesota, DOJ
  4. – 20:00: Shopify, DOJ, Donald Trump
  5. – 25:00: Texas, Ken Paxton, Shopify
  6. – 30:00: Texas
  7. – 35:00: Tony Box

Notable quotes from "LIVE: Ex-FBI Agent Makes STUNNING MOVE against MAGA…in TEXAS"

  • You get to 32. And you don't have to be a mathematical genius to know that 54 is larger than 32. The Trump administration is putting their focus on the wrong issues. The issues…
    about Donald Trump · at
  • Now. And the fact is all they're trying to do, they're trying to lie to us. I cannot believe that Scott Bassant went before Congress this week and said that really is illegal…
    about Scott Bassant · at
  • Me. And that's hard to find because I can't hold a job for nothing. But Tony Box, Tony Box can't hold a job for nothing either. And that's what makes him such a great candidate…
    about Tony Box · at
  • Connie in the beginning here, but I have to talk about last week we had Sheriff Chris Swanson. He's up there in Michigan running for governor. you're you're in Texas run for…
    about Chris Swanson · at
  • White house. I understand that you are head of the executive branch but historically the department of justice has operated independently and we will continue to do so. That's what Bondi should be saying but she's not saying.
    about DOJ · at
  • Of old. Shopy guy is always around with 247 customer support that you can call when you're in a crunch. So start your business today with the industry's best business partner, Shopify, and start hearing.
    about Shopify · at
  • March, are saying they're going to continue the legacy of Ken Paxton, what is the legacy of Ken Paxton as attorney general of Texas, Tony?
    about Ken Paxton · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Tony Box — Person · Main guest · 3 mentions · first at
    Interview subject and declared candidate for Texas Attorney General; discusses DOJ/FBI politicization, ICE conduct, and Texas AG priorities vs. Ken Paxton’s legacy.
  • FP Wellman — Person · Host · 2 mentions · first at
    Hosts the show, frames the episode around affordability, federal law enforcement conduct, and Texas politics; interviews Tony Box and references prior guest Sheriff Chris Swanson.
    On democracy to talk about all the things we're going to talk about. So, as always, I am Fred Wellman. This is on democracy with FP Wellman right here.
  • Donald Trump — Person · Referenced political figure / subject of critique · 6 mentions · first at
    Central political reference point: blamed for worsening affordability, alleged corruption, and politicization of DOJ; used to frame midterm dynamics and federal law enforcement behavior.
  • Ken Paxton — Person · Referenced officeholder / political foil · 2 mentions · first at
    Current Texas Attorney General portrayed as emblematic of corruption and politicization; guest contrasts his intended agenda with Paxton’s record and “legacy.”
  • Scott Bassant — Person · Referenced official / target of criticism · 2 mentions · first at
    Cited as giving congressional testimony blaming undocumented immigrants for housing costs; used as an example of scapegoating and misinformation in economic messaging.
  • Chris Swanson — Person · Referenced prior guest · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a previous guest (a sheriff in Michigan running for governor), used to connect themes of policing, public service, and governance.

Concepts & topics

  • DOJ — Concept · Core topic · 3 mentions · first at
    Discussed in the context of its politicization and loss of integrity under the current administration.

Places & events

  • Texas — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at
    Discussed in the context of upcoming elections and the state's political direction.
    There's a big election coming up in Texas, you guys. Not just at the federal level for Senate, but there's also some big state level elections that could have a major impact on that.
  • Minnesota — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at
    Discussed in the context of law enforcement actions and political focus.
    Where is ICE right now? Well, they're in Minnesota, right? Because they say that's where all the immigrants are. Why are they not in Texas? Because I'm pretty sure I've been…

Sponsors

  • Shopify — Product · Sponsor · 4 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as the sponsor of the podcast, promoting its e-commerce platform.

Full transcript with timestamps

Where do Americans think the economy is going right now? Yeah, here is the reality check for everyone. And I would just say this, this is the problem for the president of the United States. You get elected to fix the economy and the American people, they ain't buying it because just take a look here. Say the economy is getting worse. Right after Donald Trump was elected back in 2024, reelected, 42% of Americans said the economy is getting worse. Well, you want that number to go down. You want that number to go down if you're the president of the United States. Instead, it's going up. What are we talking about now? 55% of Americans say that the economy is getting worse. I don't know how you win when the majority of Americans say the economy is getting worse because you go back through the record books and that is a formula that equals failure.

And what do Americans want Trump to focus on the most? Yeah, this I think is the whole kit and kaboodleoodle, right? Much of the news stories over the month of January were focused in on Minneapolis, focusing in on controlling immigration and reducing crime. Those are two things that the president of the United States and his administration has been arguing about. But where do the American folks say that Trump should be focused, say their top priority should be lowering prices 54%, the clear majority? We have looked at poll after poll after poll after poll after poll.

I'm exhausting myself just talking about and every single poll say that their top priority should be lowering prices or the economy. And it is still the case much lower down controlling immigration at 22%. Even lower than that reducing crime at 10%. You add together 22 and 10 you get to 32. And you don't have to be a mathematical genius to know that 54 is larger than 32. The Trump administration is putting their focus on the wrong issues. The issues that are not most important to the American public. And when you are focusing on the wrong issues and the vast majority of Americans or the clear majority of Americans say that the economy is getting worse. Again, this is X plus Y equals failure. failure, failure, failure going into the midterm elections because Donald Trump was elected to fix the economy and it's still belief in the American people.

There you go. So, a little bit of long opening. Hi, it's me. Uh, failure. I love that last part from to and this morning is this morning folks. Failure, failure, failure, failure because it is really about the economy for most people. 54% is a staggering number of people who care about the fact that they can't pay their bills. Okay. And Donald Trump lied his way into office because the price of eggs saying he's going to fix it and he has not fixed it. Meanwhile, crime has gone down naturally because things are better.

It's we further and further away from the from the uh the pandemic. You know, immigration, they're trying to get us that and there's a lot of really terrible things going on in the world. And I wanted to open with this conversation because that is the issue, folks. The fact is in the end none of the things that the administration and the Republican doormat Congress are focusing on has a damn thing with making life better for average Americans. And the desperation I'm not going to show the clips of like Scott Bent and others and Rubio and all saying illegal immigrants are the reason housing is so expensive. They want to blame illegal immigrants, you know, people who have come here, immigrants, for the reason things cost too much. Though the fact is we all know immigrants contribute more to the economy than they take out of it.

That's just it's common sense. But we actually have data. Ko for God's sake, the KO Institute put out a study this week showing that immigrants over the last 20 years have contributed more to the tax base than taken from it. They carry more weight for our nation than take from it, which is not something I can say for a lot of red states right now. And the fact is all they're trying to do, they're trying to lie to us. I cannot believe that Scott Bassant went before Congress this week and said that really is illegal immigrants making housing sens like they're buying 500,000 homes and they're driving the rent up.

It's it's stupid beyond measure. Okay? And you and I live out in the real world. We live in a real world where real world issues face us. And one of those big issues right now is the fact we can't afford to buy food. Workingclass Americans, bluecollar workers are getting hit the hardest by all this. Rents gone up, energyy's gone up, food's gone up over and over and over. But there are big issues we have to do. Now, I'm not dismissing all the things happen. We're going to talk a lot about what's happening in the world of justice and policing and our our country as a whole, corruption. But I did want to start off by making it clear that this is an issue. And here here's the here's here's the follow here's the rest of that piece. I don't usually run with one long piece on the show, as you guys know. like little short videos. But but here's the rest of that piece about where this is going because you know

what? The Republicans are in trouble and they know it. Show how much trouble they're in.

I guess the question as we get closer and closer to the midterms, which party do people trust knowing how they feel about how Donald Trump has handled things when it comes to the economy?

Right. The economy, right? Affordability. You know, Donald Trump has been dismissing affordability concerns. But when 54% say the top priority should be lowering prices, not much of a surprise, right? Party trusted more in affordability. Overall, it's the Democrats by 14. Look at this among independents. It's I'm laughing. It's 39 points. It's a blowout. This is the entire ball game right here. And when you're having a 39 point lead among independents, a 14-point lead overall on affordability, and right now the top priority, the Americans say should be lowering prices for the Trump administration. This is the type of formula that equals major success for the Democrats come the midterms if it holds.

And we have seen that in the special elections. We'll see if that holds in the midterms.

We shall see, Sarah. We shall see. Oh, yeah. We're going to see, folks. We're seeing it now. Special election after special election, Democrats are winning because you know what? We're focusing the issues that actually impact people's lives, right? And that does go for right now. We've got mass agents running a muck in Minnesota, okay? We've got masses running a muck across the country. We've got threats against civilians. We've got people, you know, being scooped up in the dark of the night by mass agents government. We've got DOJ in turmoil.

It's become Donald Trump's personal attorneys. We've got ungodly amounts of corruption. That's the stuff that does drive up cost. That's the stuff that undermines economies. Believe it or not, all the things the Republicans and the Dormat Congress and Trump are doing is actually making things worse in America. We need labor to build things. We need safety to go to work. We need an economy that works for everybody to grow the economy and make it safer because when the economy is bad, crime goes. All these things are tied together and they're doing nothing. So, as always, I want to talk about those other issues, okay? Because it all goes to that. And as you guys know, it's funny because where is ICE right now? Well, they're in Minnesota, right? Because they say that's where all the immigrants are. Why are they not in Texas? Because I'm pretty sure I've been getting told for my entire adult life that most of the

illegal immigrants are in Texas or Florida or elsewhere. But those states are governed by Republicans. So, they're not a target. There's a big election coming up in Texas, you guys. Not just at the at the federal level for Senate, but there's also some big state level elections that could have a major impact on that state's direction and our whole country. And as always, you guys know me here on the FP Well, I get the best guests to have those conversations. And I finally found a guy with a crazier resume than me. And that's hard to find because I can't hold a job for nothing. But Tony Box, Tony Box can't hold a job for nothing either. And that's what makes him such a great candidate for Texas Attorney General. and a great guest on on democracy to talk about all the things we're going to talk about. So, as always, I am Fred Wellman. This is on democracy with FP Wellman right here.

The my touch network every Saturday night. Satchel, let's do the show, man. Run that music. Ah. Oh, shoot. Splash. Welcome, welcome, welcome. There's Tony Box right there cuz Satchel brought him in right away. So Tony Box is a former Army officer, former FBI special agent, former SWAT team leader, federal prosecutor, now an attorney of private practice in Dallas and a and a candidate for Texas attorney general. Tony, you seriously have a great resume. Welcome to Automox F1. I'm so glad to have you, brother.

Thank you. Thank you so much, Fred. I've been fortunate. a lot of people gives you opportunities opportunities over the years to work with some great organizations and I uh hope I haven't let them down.

No. Well, you're still here. You're still doing good things serving and you're still serving your country. That's what I love about when you know when I had the opportunity to to meet you and I said, "Well, this is a guy I get. He's he's about public service. He's about serving his community. He's about stepping up when the country needs you and the country needs you right now." Look, you know, I did talk a little bit, you know, we talked to Connie in the beginning here, but but I have to talk about last week we had Sheriff Chris Swanson. He's up there in Michigan running for governor. you're you're in Texas run for AG, but you've also got an incredible thing. I mean, as you look at what you're seeing unfold in the streets of America, and I we'll start there. I mean, as you see ICE agents and CBP agents and how the DOJ is covering all this, are you shocked with your long long record of law enforcement

and and and prosecutor experience? I mean, does it shock you? Yeah. Yeah, I'm shocked and amazed. Uh disappointed, saddened. Uh I just can't believe what I see. I mean, I'd worked with federal law enforcement officer for years and years and years. Actually, I was a federal law enforcement officer. I'd worked with every three-letter agency there is. And to see these poorly trained ICE and Border Patrol agents kicking butt indiscriminately, it's amazing and it's sad. And it's not federal law enforcement that I know. And so, this is some new thing that came in with this administration that tells you to take to the streets and beat people uh for the sake of beating them. And it's it needs to change. You know, I've been telling people for a long time that they just need to be pulled out of the streets of Minnesota. Uh and and you know, go back to where they came from and get retrained and then talk about

what comes next. What worries me, and I I talked to Chris about it last year, but I do want to bring it up again because, you know, we know the agent that shot Renee Good. Um we we we've now got the name, I'm not going to repeat, of the agents that allegedly shot Alex Prey. They weren't actually rookies. I mean, these were agents who've been in the agencies for a while. And you served in the FBI. You've also been in the army like me, which I really love. So, you know that it isn't just the training possibly. I mean, the long-term training, but it feels like a cultural problem. You know, I told last week, you know, when I had an army when I had an army unit like this, we broke it up, right? I mean, do you feel there's a cultural issue that we've developed in DHS and and the subordinate agencies?

It is. I mean, it's a cultural issue which comes from the top. Uh, a fish rocks from the head down, right?

Yeah. And if the leadership is bad, you know this, I mean, you spent your entire life studying leadership and exercising leadership. If the leadership is poor and they give direction to the people under them to go out and and bust heads, then that's what they're going to do. Uh, if especially if they don't have the moral compass or the ability to push back. Uh, and so yes, it's the leadership. It's the culture. They have created a culture which says go out. These people are the enemy as opposed to American citizens who are exercising the first amendment right lawfully. These are the enemies and you must beat them and punish them for this. And so it's it's something that I've never seen before and I hope I never see it again.

Yeah, I saw a video, you know, Bo got sent homeish. Uh, but I did see video of him hyping up the agents that were with him from CBP saying, "Whose streets are streets? Whose streets are?" So, like, "The f they are. They're not your streets. They're the Minnesota. They're the go they're Minnesota. They are American streets and there's people you're supposed to serve." And you served in Iraq. You you you were an adviser of the Ministry of Interior. Like, I was an I was an adviser of the MOI. I was an adviser of the MOD. You know, I mean, we didn't train our we didn't train the Iraqis to behave like this towards Iraqis. I mean, we punished Iraqis who divided the Iraqi people by religion, divided the Iraqi people by what militia they're a member of, didn't we? We we we fought this, didn't we? I mean, you and I as service members, we fought this kind of mentality in our allied units, didn't we?

We fought it tooth and nail because the damage that it does to the mission and everyone around. And here in this case is the damage it does to the American people. The nameful our reputation, our standing in the world is all diminished uh because of what is taking place in Minneapolis and other large mostly blue cities.

Right. Right. And you're in Texas. I mean they're not coming to Texas. The naked P. So let's circle that politicization of so much that you served. I mean, that's one of the things that worries me is especi though I loved when when when when I when when you you agreed to come on, I was like, "Oh my god, this guy, you served DOJ. You served an FBI. These are not these are supposed to be nonpartisan roles. They're not The DOJ is not the president's personal attorneys. You don't prosecute people." I mean, I mean, DOJ has truly gone off the rails, haven't they?

Yeah. Way off the rails. So, it must be a non-political organization. You cannot have a department of justice which makes which really its currency is his reputation when he walks in court that the judge trusts you that you're not lying to him or her. And they have lost that. They are morally bankrupt right now. And what what we see now, you know, is a bleeding of professional lawyers, professional earners who want nothing more than to serve the nation respectfully and to do the right thing, but instead they're being thrown in a political arena to carry out uh personal prosecutions and political prostitutions to be the president's personal uh lawyers and and no self-respecting Department of Justice lawyer wants to do that, which is why they have shaded thousands and thousands of lawyers. I shocked the I don't if you saw the report that one justice attorney the the judge is beat her up because they

haven't followed any of his orders and she literally said just put me in contempt because I'm exhausted instead of getting fired of course because they're not going to let that happen. But I mean my god you were an attorney you were prosecuting attorney. I mean, I couldn't imagine. I mean, it it has to be almost a moral crisis, like a moral injury to go as a person who's dedicated your life to public service as a prosecutor and to have to go to court and defend some of these outrageous acts and knowing that your own agency and government will not follow the judge's rules, right? I mean, they're not going to follow the rulings, are they?

Yeah, it is a crisis. It's a crisis that many remaining lawyers are struggling with. Uh they're quitting by the day. Some people say I'm going to hold on as as long as I can, but most can't hold on any longer. Just like the lawyer you talked about. I mean, she was she Yeah. She said, "Hold me in contempt because this is crazy. I'm exhausted." She said all of those things which I believe and she's essentially she was at a breaking point, right? And so many I I'm communicate with with my buddies who uh have left, my buddies who remain and in my practice currently I deal with DOJ lawyers on a daily basis and they are all exhausted and they all want to go back to a normal DOJ where they can serve and protect and prosecute bad guys and and ladies and not be the personal prosecution force of the president

and a DOJ and a government that follows judges orders and respects the constitution. I mean, I think the the thread through your entire career clearly is raising your right hand. I mean, I I mean, I always say I raised my right hand to oath to the Constitution in the Army, but you did it as a prosecutor. You did it as a government. You did it as a congressional staffer. For f's sake, I mean, you guys, I don't read I didn't read all of Tony's bio. I'll put it in the I'll put it in the summary, but you you've been a prosecutor. You've been a congressional staffer. You've investigated Afghan, you know, the corruption the and the contracting and corruption contracting uh contract corruption. There's such naked corruption occurring right now in our country, right? I mean, we're seeing that Donald Trump is is looting our government in so many ways. We're seeing the billionaires looting the government

so many ways. Um, I mean, you would probably been appalled when you investigated the corruption, Afghan contract, but now we see Donald Trump Juniors getting contracts for people put them on the board and they put them on. I mean, have is the is the corruption you're seeing? I mean, that really damages the entire country in the end, doesn't it? Yeah, that's corruption personified, right? I mean, yes, I saw incredible corruption in Afghanistan. We could not believe our eyes when we investigated that corruption. Yeah,

but what we see now parallels that or possibly exceeds it. And I don't even think that people care. The people are committing this corruption, they think they are unaccountable and and nothing's going to happen to them. So, they're just looting the government. This it's a bunch of grifters uh who who are doing whatever they want to do.

Yeah. And there's no way But they should understand that many of these things there's there's a statute of limitation. So, uh, just they should keep that in mind.

Yeah. I mean, and and it's going to be up to Texas. It's going to be up to states like that. Are you talking to a for So, one more thing, you know, I have friends at the FBI. Will will it hold? I mean, I do you think the FB I mean, we saw the FBI evaded uh has has did go and go into the voting booth, you know, the voting ballot the ballots in Georgia. We're hearing other things. I mean, are you worried about the state of the FBI? our leading law enforcement agency, too. I mean, I mean, I I've hoped the army will hold, but there's only 30,000 or so FBI agents and employees, right? I mean, are you worried about what you're seeing at the FBI?

Yeah, I'm deeply concerned. I mean, I'm incredibly worried uh that the agency will be broken to the point where it won't be able to operate effectively for years and years to come. It is actually broken now. Uh but the key is when will we be able to rebuild it and how will we be able to rebuild it? Will we have the the the respect? Will we be able to recruit the top notch recruits where the that the FBI has always recruited the ability to get in the FBI? It was really really difficult. It was high standards. I feel blessed uh to make it and to be selected. And so the the the uh the criteria for getting in is weighed down.

the mission is enforcing whatever the president wants you to enforce on any given day. He shouldn't be giving orders uh to the attorney general and attorney general should be telling him look we are uh we don't take orders from the white house. I understand that you are head of the executive branch but historically uh the department of justice has operated independently and we will continue to do so. That's what Bondi should be saying but she's not saying.

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Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com/fred. Okay, that's go to shopify.comfred. And one more time, that's shopify.comfred. Hit him today. Thanks. Thanks, Propify. So let's circle a really important part of all this, right? You're running for Texas attorney general, right? and and a tough state. But we also know it's a blue wave year. I open the show with a discussion of what's has been about a lot of people are frustrated right now. It looks like I'm looking at my notes. Chip Roy is the leading contender for the takeover for Paxton. If don't run, it's Ken Paxton as the current attorney general. He's been there for a while.

He's had boy has he had agenda. My favorite part of reading up to get ready for this interview, Tony, was all the Republicans in the race, which is in March, are saying they're going to continue the legacy of Ken Paxton, you know, what is the legacy of Ken Paxton as attorney general of Texas, Tony?

Corruption, if I could put it all in one word. There you go. I was going to say that's why I put it there.

Yeah. So, uh, Ken Paxton has been indicted. Uh, he's been impeached. He's been sued by his top deputies and on and on and on. And that's just the start of it because the number of political and frivolous lawsuits that he's filed has exceeded the number that anybody has ever known or imagined could beat. And so I don't keep up much with the my Republican contenders. I let them fight over there. But people tell me things and you're right. People said can Paxton, they tell me that the contenders have all said he's done a great job and we want to continue his legacy. No people, you you don't want to continue his legacy. Uh, that's not what we need in Texas. We need somebody who's a who's anti-corruption and not for corruption.

Someone who's a fighter for the people and not a fighter for a polit political party and not suing the state of Texas on behalf of the Republican National Convention when you are uh when you're the AG.

There's been just constant politization of that job. like you said, they they've signed every lawsuit the all the way back to 2020 the with the campaign and it it they never miss a chance to jump into national issues. Where does that leave Texas, Tony? I mean I mean there's there's it's like I say with DOJ, there's real ass crimes, right? There's real crimes that need to be resolved. There's a real job of the Texas AG. It feels like Paxton's been too busy glossing his resume as a national Republican than actually doing the job of attorney general. And and that job is crime, right? I mean it have you seen that breaking in the t and as your priority getting back to the business of being an AG again?

Yes, that's absolutely my first priority. So yes, I've seen so there's two things. One is he's just a a political animal to start with, right? And the second thing is now that he's running for Senate, he's even amped up his lawsuits and his political actions targeting everybody to include blue states, blue cities, to include the district attorneys and why he's suing his own district attorneys in his own state. Uh I don't know if it's not for political reasons, but yes, that's a problem. He led the lawsuit against Joe Biden's win in 2020. Uh unsuccessful, of course. And so this the state is pissed.

Everyone, other than the four folks that are running to replace him, I don't I haven't run across anyone who says he's done a great job, his legacy should be continued, and uh we want more Ken Pax. And they what they tell me is they want somebody who understands corruption. Somebody who has been there fighting for people for decades and understands what it means to put the people first and not my political party or my rich buddies.

Yeah. And not themselves, right? I mean, that's the thing about Paxton. Pax has lined his own pocket line the pocket of his apparently his affair partner. He's been he's been a busy guy, but he hasn't been busy prosecuting crime. What will be your prior as you as you go into the job and you're looking at what Texas is dealing with? It is a border. It really is an actual border state where everybody tries to say they're a border state now. And my own Republican leadership in Missouri calls a border state. I'm like, I am positive we're not a border state and Tennessee has never invaded us. Um, you know, well, maybe back in the 1800s, but having said that, Texas is you've got real challenges ahead of you. What do you, as you look at the state of Texas, a giant state, as an attorney general, it's a giant job.

It's it's it's a statewide job of one of the top economies in the world. What do you prioritize as you go into that office and what will you be doing as soon on day one?

Really, it's it's rather simple and it's prioritizing the people first. Uh and I mean that could be a lot of things, but as long as you keep that as your guiding star, your north star, then you all the other things will fall into place. And so you're right, it is incredibly important state. It's a big st 32 million people and these people need to be protected and they have not had the attorney general sues on behalf of the citizens and he also protects the states when it's been sued but it hasn't been done. I mean that office you mentioned uh what's the state of the office the office is is largely used for pen Pakistan's political purposes and one high priority for me because I've been in this arena my entire life is uh enforcing uh consumer protection enforcement that's been largely left undone uh because they're suing you know nonprofits who will register people to vote and and on and on and on and so

what I really want to do is beef up the consumer protection enforcement aspect of the job uh fight fraud and crime, crypto fraud, elder fraud, which is running a muck. You know, they called someone told me they recently called the office and they said, "We don't we don't do that. We don't investigate those fines." And so, but we're going to we're going to change that on day one.

Jesus. You know, I mean, it's got to be shocking for just average citizens. And and and and this is it sounds like a lot of the conversations I've been having in my other job that I have is it's not even partisan anymore. These this shouldn't be a partisan this shouldn't even be a partisan debate, right? This is about who's going to serve the state, who's going to save the common, you know, the pe the working people of the state and and their needs and the elderly of our state and other and this has become it it shouldn't be this partisan an issue, should it?

Yeah. No, I just want to be clear, it is not partisan. It is an apolitical job. Uh that office I grew up in the department in FBI, the old FBI in the old DA and it was non-political. We didn't care what your political affiliation was. All we whether you were a Republican or a Democrat, if you broke the law or or harm someone, you were going to be punished equal with equal measure. We didn't know what our colleagues political affiliation were were. And we didn't care. All we cared about was protecting the people. And that's what that office is should be about. And when I become the attorney general of the state of Texas, day one, I'm going to communicate with every attorney general employee. This is the mission. And we do not do politics. What we do is protect people.

That's it. You know, the basic oath and everything else. I guess I guess that's the biggest thing you can see. I you know, it is a tough time, right? And then and it's a tough time across the country and people are scared. I I think do you hear that as you travel the state? Like it's real fear now. I mean, I I've I've talked to people too. I mean, do you hear that this as you visit folk? I know you're traveling the state, I'm sure.

Yeah. Yeah. I'm traveling the states. It's fear, isn't it? Yeah. I'm traveling as we speak. Yeah. I'm incredible fear uh fear of their own government, fear of, you know, what's going to be cut next, fear of if the federal government cuts these grants, what's going to happen to me? Uh am I going to lose my job? Is the is the federal government going to protect me? um my protect my job for example if NIH grants are taken is the attorney general going to sue uh to get those back like was has been done in many other blue states uh the answer right now is no probably not but the answer after the election uh in November will be yes the attorney general will be the first to protect you and not not even uh not just that but also their safety and so uh people are very very concerned worried uh worried whether the government is there for for them or against them

and it has to be rebuilt. I I talk this a lot as it'll be the final thing I harass you about is, you know, they they've tore down so much and and I know watching Texas from a distance and what we hear about what Pax has done to the AG's office and that and you said it, you kind of touched on a little bit earlier, you're going to have to rebuild a lot, aren't you? You're going to need you're you're going to have to kind of over in a lot of ways start from scratch. Like you said, entire departments have been undermined if not deleted, haven't they?

Yeah. Yeah. They they the culture needs to change. uh he's recruited a lot of political animals to carry out his uh mission. People who are believe that that's how an attorney general's office should operate because it's all they ever known. Uh so we're going to have to hire some good folks. Luckily, there's a ton of good DOJ, former DOJ and enforcement people out there who are looking for a place to continue to help the people of Texas and people of America. And so there are going to be uh uh professionals and and resources available to us. And so I really look forward to that. But yes, that the culture needs to change. It will be revamped, you know, right away.

All right. Well, most important, I got a question. I talked to you a lot about your background, your bio. You're running for attorney general. Your primary is in a month or last. So where can people find you? Where can the minus mighty find out more information about what you're doing with Onian? So, thank you.

Acid. Yeah, we we are uh we're coming just coming off a very very good several weeks. Uh huge endorsements from from two of the major newspapers in Texas. And and the reason oftentimes I would uh what they speak about I I would say is tell tell your audience that San Antonio uh and also the Austin main papers there they articulate our case for us and it's essentially what you and I have been talking about and this you need somebody in there that's going to fight corruption and bring integrity back to the office. So people can find me at Tony Box for Texas Ty box ox for Texas.

I tell the people check the box for box. Uh my socials is also Tony. That's solid

instra. I like a lot of super easy. Mine's not that easy, but I appreciate it. Well, Tony, man, thanks for taking time for me. I appreciate you. I know it's a crazy time when you're this close to election, but we wish you the best of luck and and really appreciate your insight and good luck out there, brother.

Thank you. I really appreciate it. Thank you for having me. Wonderful to talk to another Army guy, a guy who's been in Iraq, has done all the good things. Thank you. Yeah, you know, it's funny. I It's I We didn't talk about it, but I tell the story all the time, Tony, about how I I I tell the on my other job, you know, sitting there in Iraq talking to Iraqis. You know, I started off with the troops in the 100 airborne, then I was advising the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Interior, and in Baghdad and and thinking the stories I heard about the dictatorship. Uh my friend Dr. Muhammad, who died later after I left, would tell the story of how you learned not to see things. You learned not to see when the men the black SUV showed up next door and took the family in the night. I remember thinking to myself, "Thank God we don't have to deal with that in America." And here we are in 2026 and you're running for office, you know, and

we've got mass agents of the government, scooping people off the streets, you know, breaking the windows of their car, leaving babies behind the car. I mean, it is um I think for men like us and women uh who have served over there, having heard those stories, it's it's a shocking time. So, I'm glad you're stepping on something. Yeah,

thanks for joining us. Thank you, sir. All right, good. We'll see. We'll stay in touch.

All right, we'll go. Oh, wow. Great. I love these conversations. Yeah, that that that bio. You got to go to his website, folks. That's Tonybox for Texas.com. Check him out. Uh it's great great great leader. Obviously, you you can see his his heart and his brain's in the right place that we need to bring back integrity. We bring back service, bring back nonpartisan leadership. Look, the the the one thing we've learned in the in the decades now of Republican overreach and lack of integrity from people like Trump and then of course all the leaders of Texas these days who put partisanship against service. We just want people to do the job we hired them for. Right? I mean I so I hear this constantly while I'm doing my other job. People just want somebody to do the job we elected you to do. Right? If you're a mayor, be a mayor. Get the snow off the roads. Pick up the trash. If you're the attorney

general of a giant state, prosecute crimes. Protect consumers. Sue on behalf of the state when they are wronged. When the people of your state are wronged, not use it for corruption. Not use your office as a personal launching pad to larger office. Do the job we hired you for. And folks, as you look at who you're electing, as you look at these next elections, and I'm talking not even partisan, even on our own side of that partisan divide, hire people who want to do the job, hire people who don't promise the moon and deliver nothing, right? Hire people who can get things done, right? It's time. If we are in an era of anything, we should be an era of people who get done. As you look at your candidates, as you look at who you're going to invest in as a donor, who you're going to volunteer for, people like Tony who get done or the people you want to hire, okay?

Because that's what you're doing. You're hiring a person to represent you. You're hiring a person to be your member of Congress or your mayor or your governor. Hire people to get stuff done. Not talk, not the peacock, not kiss the presidents, but hire people to get job done. So that's why it's a pleasure to have Tony. We've got some more hot seats coming out. Again, the show here, we're here every Friday night, uh, live with all you great folks. Thanks for joining me this week as always. Uh, we we really appreciate you. All the things are going on. You know where to find us, all the information. There's new hot seats going out now. We got a new one coming out with Rob Sand. It's going to be a good one. He's running for governor of Iowa.

Incredible man. Uh, we've got more of those coming. Of course, we're here every Friday night. The best place to find all this stuff, of course, is our Substack. FPWwellman.substack.com. That's fpwman.substack.com. You can keep track of the other job that I'm doing and the the job I'm applying for right now, my day job that I do. Check that out there at the fpw.subsat.com. It's free to join, free to subscribe, free to watch, free to do all the things and share. As always, share, like, subscribe. I can't believe you didn't hit the like already. What are you doing? If you haven't hit the like already, if you haven't commented, get in the chat. Love to hear from you. In the meantime, I'm Fred Wellman. Keep up the fight, folks. We're not done yet.

It's just started. Now, let's do it. Thanks for joining me. We'll see you next week.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "LIVE: Ex-FBI Agent Makes STUNNING MOVE against MAGA…in TEXAS"?

Fred Wellman (Host), Tony Box (Guest).

What is "LIVE: Ex-FBI Agent Makes STUNNING MOVE against MAGA…in TEXAS" about?

The discussion highlights concerns regarding public perception of the economy ahead of the upcoming election, revealing that a growing majority of Americans believe the economy is worsening under the current administration. Key polling data indicates that the American public prioritizes lowering prices as their primary concern, significantly more than issues like immigration control or crime…

What is mentioned in this MeidasTouch episode?

10 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Tony Box, DOJ, FP Wellman, Donald Trump, Texas, Minnesota. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "LIVE: Ex-FBI Agent Makes STUNNING MOVE against MAGA…in TEXAS"?

The episode runs 35 min; the transcript is about 7,164 words in 66 timestamped sections.

More from MeidasTouch

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated February 8, 2026.