Trump PUSHED to the BRINK as He LOSES ALL CONTROL

What this episode is about

The content discusses the escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly focusing on the aggressive actions of ICE in Minneapolis and the implications of such policies that resemble totalitarian regimes. It highlights the disturbing requirement for individuals to produce identification based on their appearance or accent, and emphasizes the growing resistance from communities and artists who oppose these oppressive tactics.

Key takeaways

• In America, accent = suspicion; the irony is louder than a siren's wail.
• Standing in your driveway shouldn't require a passport; welcome to the new normal.
• Brutality as a badge of honor? ICE proves authoritarianism can wear a smile.
• If resistance has a soundtrack, it's punk rock facing the might of federal troops.
• Rebranding 'Citizen CIA' to 'Citizen ICE' shows that protest is more than a phase—it's a rallying cry.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Ken Harbaugh (Host) · 10 min speaking
• Ken Casey (Guest) · 7 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Ice King
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Ken Casey, Dropkick Murphys, Citizen CIA, Ice King
3. 9:00 – 12:00: American Giant, Valor Media Network

Notable quotes from "Trump PUSHED to the BRINK as He LOSES ALL CONTROL"

• This agency, ICE, is proud of its brutality because brutality is the point. But the people of Minneapolis are standing up. They are inspiring resistance across the country. And a few.

  about Ice King · at 2:06

• In part one of my conversation with Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphy's, which came out on Monday, we talked about the punk rock tradition of raising a middle finger to…

  about Dropkick Murphys · at 3:29

• To get it, you got to come to a show for the time being. But, Citizen CIA was just a kind of mock mark of a recruiting kind of thing of [snorts] for the CIA, you know. it was political. It obviously was talking about our feelings of how we.

  about Citizen CIA · at 5:23

• This will I think, like I said, I think it's a punk rock band's duty to kind of just get out there and mix it up and be on the front lines, you know what I mean? It's not always the easiest place to put yourself, but it's.

  about Ken Casey · at 6:27

• Just trying to stay warm. And the more you wear it, the better it gets. softer, more comfortable, more yours. American Giant obsesses over the details, and they're deeply committed to the communities that make their products.

  about American Giant · at 9:53

• More of. Respectful dialogue between people who disagree, but who have figured out how to stay friends. Check out Battle Buddies today. Two vets, two views, One Nation. Find us on the Valor Media Network. the links below.

  about Valor Media Network · at 11:27

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Ken Casey — Person · Main guest · 2 mentions · first at 3:29
  He discusses Dropkick Murphys’ political/punk tradition, their lyric rewrite ‘Citizen CIA’ to ‘Citizen ICE,’ and argues ICE tactics are intimidation/authoritarianism while urging artists to show up in Minneapolis.

Books & papers

• Citizen CIA — Book · Referenced work · 2 mentions · first at 4:38
  Mentioned in the context of discussing political themes and resistance.

Companies & orgs

• Dropkick Murphys — Company · Referenced work · 2 mentions · first at 3:31
  Mentioned in the context of discussing punk rock and resistance to authoritarianism.

Concepts & topics

• Ice King — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions · first at 1:15
  Central theme of the episode, discussing ICE's tactics and impact on communities.

Sponsors

• American Giant — Product · Sponsor · 3 mentions · first at 9:09
  Promoted product during the episode, highlighted for its quality and durability.
• Valor Media Network — Company · Sponsor · 1 mention · first at 11:35
  Mentioned as the network hosting the show 'Battle Buddies'.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:01 Look sir, are you going to do this the easy way or are we going to take you in?

0:04 You cannot take me in private. Yes, I can. You have documentation? I do have my documentation.

0:14 You present it to me. Why you ask me for my paperwork? Because of your accent. I still You have an accent, too.

0:21 Where were you born, sir? Where were you born at? Put your hands behind your back. It's Ken Harbaugh with the Midas Touch Network. Last time I checked, this was still America where standing in your own driveway, not breaking any laws, you did not have to produce papers when the authorities demanded them, unless apparently you have an accent. We warned people about this, about descending into the kind of totalitarian state like the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany where carrying papers was a requirement. Now, if you look like or sound like an immigrant, that's the America you live in. I reported several months ago on my trip to the border where American citizens whose only offense is not looking like me don't leave their homes without identification. And now it's happening in Minneapolis. ICE is a menace, a regime tool that exists for one reason, intimidation. If it were about immigration, they'd be in red

1:25 cities with much higher concentrations of undocumented immigrants. If it were about public safety, they wouldn't be dragging moms out of minivans. And the fact that they are doing this defiantly in full view of cameras is a window into just how brutal their world view is. Hey, you know what?

1:45 STOP KNEADING HIM WITH A FACE. THAT'S HIS FACE. STOP IT. Back up or you'll be arrested for impinge. Back up.

1:53 I am back. That's fine. Be careful. Be careful. What's your name? WHAT'S YOUR NAME FOR YOUR FAMILY?

2:04 WHAT? This agency, ICE, is proud of its brutality because brutality is the point. But the people of Minneapolis are standing up. They are inspiring resistance across the country. And a few brave artists, not enough, but that'll grow, are stepping up as well. We believe the truth still matters. And it is worth speaking out and it is worth fighting for if you believe in the power of the law and that no one stands above it.

2:41 If we stand against heavily armed mass federal troops invading an American city and using estoppable tactics against their fellow citizens. If you believe you don't deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest and send a message to this president who has the mayor of that city has said, "I should get the [ __ ] out of Minneapolis." Well, this song is for you and in the memory of a mother of three and American citizen Renee Good. Thank you.

3:29 In part one of my conversation with Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphy's, which came out on Monday, we talked about the punk rock tradition of raising a middle finger to authoritarianism. In part two, we talk about ICE and its brutal tactics and about the need for more artists to speak out. Here's me and Ken Casey. The front lines of that propaganda war center on immigration right now with the administration pumping tens of billions of dollars into ICE with them organizing it as much like a a media organization as a law enforcement organization. The head of Customs and Border Patrol is a media primadana. He he's not exactly a professional law enforcement guy. He's bad at that, but he he knows where to be. so that the camera catches him every time. I'm talking about Greg Vino, of course.

4:24 Hey, hey, that and you guys have waited right into that as well. I didn't see it when it first came out, but your remake of Citizen CIA into Citizen Ice really struck a chord with me. What inspired that? And can we find it anywhere except except on tour in France, which is the the clip I got.

4:54 Well, so it's coming out um on a on a split uh LP that we're doing with a uh upand cominging uh amazing Boston hardcore band that I'm actually wear haywire that I'm actually wearing the sweatshirt right now. and um and and it's during the US tour. It's just going to be on the vinyl at the shows and then it'll come out later on in March after the tour is over like streaming wise and in stores and whatnot. So, if you want to get it, you got to come to a show uh for the time being. But, you know, Citizen CIA was um you know, just a kind of mock mark of a recruiting kind of thing of of [snorts] for the CIA, you know. Um, it was political. It obviously was talking about our feelings of how we go around the world and, you know, create havoc that often times turns to bite us in the ass and our own sons and daughters end up fighting the next regime in a in a in a war. Um, you know, but the changing it to ICE was

5:57 such a no-brainer cuz it's so much more immediate and so much more um, you know, on our own soil.

6:16 And we just thought of it one night. I was just doing it at soundcheck and um started changing the words and then sang it that way that night and then I was like, "Oh, this this is a good idea. This will I think, you know, like I said, I think it's a punk rock band's duty to kind of just get out there and mix it up and be on the front lines, you know what I mean? It's not always the easiest place to put yourself, but it's where a punk rock band uh should be. And you know, we're happy to put ourselves there. And um you know and then you know you also talk about the other side of the band where is you know um you know singing about you know the the roots of our of Boston such a strong Irish community and Boston's an immigrant town and not that the whole country isn't you know what I mean but like the roots here are like you know it's it's a lot about what we sing about and it's like man like

7:15 like h How I I just never had I I had even less respect for anybody who had that mentality of, hey, my parents or grandparents came here, built a great life in America, but close the door behind us, the next person's not welcome. You know, no one should understand the plight of the immigrant more than um you know, someone whose family came here and got to succeed in America because of that. And and I and listen, if you want to have that argument when this all started, oh, they're going after the criminals and the G we how it's it you see it on TV, it's 90% of the time they're bullying women, you know what I mean? And asking people for their their credentials. It's like this is not about getting criminals out of the country. This is about complete authoritarian takeover and you know they're grabbing people who are hardworking uh you know the backbone of the country and they're also grabbing citizens if

8:12 you if you dare to speak up and speak out and by the way I I overheard someone yesterday beside me at a table at a restaurant saying you know like you know you don't [ __ ] around with the police you when they say something you listen I want it's not the police it's [ __ ] a Rico Tario IT'S THE PROUD BOYS I don't know who's behind that mask they pure [ __ ] on a cop. You know, they're not trained properly and then they're letting their emotions and their ego dictate how they do their job. So, I I wouldn't listen.

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10:45 Code Ken. It's Ken Harbaugh with a quick break to tell you about something new. Battle Buddies is my latest weekly show where I try to find common ground with a conservative who I consider a true friend. David Bellavia, the only surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the war in Iraq. A Navy vet, an Army vet from opposite ends of the political spectrum, engaging in a civil conversation like we used to have. From the ICE immigration crackdowns to Trump's takeover of Venezuela, David and I take on the toughest issues of the day with genuine respect for each other in spite of our very different perspectives. They're not always easy conversations, but they're always important. And that's something we need more of. Respectful dialogue between people who disagree, but who have figured out how to stay friends. Check out Battle Buddies today. Two vets, two views, One Nation. Find us on the Valor

11:38 Media Network. the links below. Thanks. That sentiment is coming from the same crowd that five minutes ago was flying a don't tread on me flag and they've gone from what was it live free or die to obey or get shot in the face. the h the hypocrisy. I mean, it's obvious

12:06 everything MEA mega does is pure hypocrisy. You know what I mean? So, you know,

12:12 I just got back from Minneapolis where I got to see that closeup and I'm wondering if you have any thoughts as an artist. This is my homage to the city. I was blown away by the bravery of those people. the the idea that ICE is going to go in there and intimidate motans in the middle of winter. I don't think they knew what they were in for. These are the toughest people on the face of the earth. And um I'm wondering if you have any advice for artists who are thinking about shows in Minneapolis. Look, this is my pitch for the city. Go to Minneapolis. Perform your show. Be there for the folks of that city. Don't let I scare you away. There have been Well, I I I'll deliver the stat and then I I'll dig into it. Half of the homicides in Minneapolis to date this year have been caused by ICE. It is a safe city.

13:11 Yeah. Until ICE gets there, right? They are not making cities like that safer. But if you're an artist thinking about a comedy show or a performance in Minneapolis, go stand with the people of that city. Yeah, we have a show coming up there on this tour and we'll probably do, you know, uh plan something additional during the day to be part of a protest. Um, you know, uh, one of the benefits of of traveling the world. Obviously, it's opened my eyes and I and a lot of my friends and people that I grew up with, like they haven't had that opportunity, you know, to to see the world. And you know, I'll I'll always end up in these discussions where like one time someone said, "I'd love to go to France, but I see all the riots and the street and the Muslims and I go, I just got back from France. I didn't I'm not saying that, you know, to some degree something doesn't ever happen there." But like the narrative you're

14:03 fed by Fox News that you can't walk down the streets. I got I was out in Minneapolis. That's where our albums for uh for the people album were being pressed and you know the vinyl just came out in the fall. So I was out there in the fall and the Somali, you know, rhetoric was already had been starting up on Fox News and I come back and I said, you know, I just spent 4 days out there and I had multiple multiple interactions with Somali immigrants who uh seemed to be assimilating well. They spoke perfect English like they were very friendly.

14:43 What? But you believe this narrative that you hear on the news. You've never been there. You'll probably never go there. But you know, in your mind, you know, Minneapolis is a war zone. And godamn it, Trump better send in the troops. And you just said it. ISIS caused half the murders. You know what I mean? Like it's not a war zone. The people in Minneapolis are awesome people. Um just the salt, you know, salt of the earth people

15:11 and and Americans. Yeah, exactly. At the end of the day, Americans. I saw more American flags at that protest at Powder Horn Park than I could count. And to your observation about Somali Americans, their grandkids are going to look back at their parents' experience the way your generation looks back at your grandparents experience coming to Boston.

15:33 They're the first generation experiencing this. And if we can create that kind of empathy, I think we can all see them as Americans, which they are.

15:43 Absolutely. Ken, thank you so much. We'll put links to everything in the notes below. And I'm going to try to get out there for that Minneapolis concert. I think that's going to that that's going to be something

15:54 that we we we shall hit take to the streets in the afternoon together. You know, I appreciate all you do staying on the literal front lines of all this stuff, home man. and uh and thanks for uh having a chat with me today.

16:07 You got it. Thanks, Jen. See you. Love this video. Support independent media and unlock exclusive content. Add free videos and custom emojis by becoming a paid member of our YouTube channel today. You can also gift memberships to others. Let's keep growing together.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Trump PUSHED to the BRINK as He LOSES ALL CONTROL"?

Ken Harbaugh (Host), Ken Casey (Guest).

What is "Trump PUSHED to the BRINK as He LOSES ALL CONTROL" about?

The content discusses the escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly focusing on the aggressive actions of ICE in Minneapolis and the implications of such policies that resemble totalitarian regimes. It highlights the disturbing requirement for individuals to produce identification based on their appearance or accent, and emphasizes the growing…

What is mentioned in this MeidasTouch episode?

6 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Ice King, Ken Casey, Dropkick Murphys, Citizen CIA. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Trump PUSHED to the BRINK as He LOSES ALL CONTROL"?

The episode runs 16 min; the transcript is about 2,725 words in 31 timestamped sections.

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