ICE, the Law, & Harvard: The US' March Towards Authoritarianism: US Politics Extra

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:25⏩
Jonathan MS Pearce welcomes viewers to another ATP Geopolitics US politics special. He explains that the video will provide a rundown of legal issues in the US, primarily focusing on ICE, immigration, and Harvard, alongside other related matters.

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Questionable Pardons by Trump Administration

🎦 00:25-02:37⏩
Jonathan begins by discussing Donald Trump's pattern of questionable pardons, highlighting the case of former Representative Michael Grimm, a New York Republican who resigned after a tax fraud conviction. Jonathan notes the hypocrisy, as the Republican Party once claimed to be the party of law and order, but now seemingly prioritises "party politics above country, above law and order." He also cites Trump's suggestion of pardoning P. Diddy, not based on facts, but because P. Diddy "used to really like me a lot." Jonathan views this as clear evidence of a narcissistic president granting preferential treatment based on loyalty rather than morality or legal standing.

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"Big Beautiful Bill" and Authoritarian Powers

🎦 02:38-05:05⏩
Jonathan transitions to the "big, beautiful bill" – a reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives and awaiting Senate approval. He describes it as "the most dangerous legislation in US history" due to its hidden clauses. He highlights how some Republican congressmen voted for it without reading the fine print. Jonathan reveals that this bill, if enacted, would allow the President to:

• Delay or cancel elections legally.
• Ignore Supreme Court rulings for a year or more.
• Fire government workers for political disloyalty.
• Prevent judges from enforcing their own orders.
• Track and criminalise protests.
• Gutter LGBTQ+ rights, education, healthcare, and media.
• Track VPNs, suppress votes, and flag speech.

Jonathan warns that the bill doesn't break the law but rewrites it to legitimise authoritarian actions, making it appear that "authoritarianism came to America... dressed up as freedom."

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American Bar Association & Judicial Vetting

🎦 05:07-05:58⏩
Jonathan points out that Pam Bondi has informed the American Bar Association that it will no longer have access to vet judicial candidates. He interprets this, alongside other subtle changes happening "under the radar," as a deliberate chipping away at the legal norms and mores embedded in American political processes. This move suggests an attempt to push through potentially unsuitable judicial nominees without proper scrutiny.

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Ashley Babbitt Settlement & January 6th Double Standards

🎦 05:58-07:43⏩
Jonathan expresses outrage over the Department of Justice's reported $30 million settlement to Ashley Babbitt's estate in a wrongful death lawsuit. He calls this "absolutely insane," especially considering that numerous police officers were killed or injured during the January 6th Capitol attack, yet their families have received no similar compensation. He highlights the stark "double standards" at play, where a pro-Trump individual involved in the insurrection receives a substantial payout, while victims and defenders of the Capitol are left uncompensated.

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DOJ Investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James

🎦 07:43-09:53⏩
Jonathan discusses breaking news that the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James shortly after she won a significant case against Donald Trump. He characterises this as "retribution" and "incredibly typical of Donald Trump himself and his administration." Jonathan plays a clip of Letitia James speaking, where she emphatically states, "Do not give in to fear. We are fearless. This is not the time to be afraid. This is a time to stand up and fight back and to resist any temptation for them to divide us. We're in this together. The rule of law is on our side. And the one institution that has stood by our side is the court." Jonathan notes that the courts are seen as the "last bulwark" against populism taking the American government to extremes, as Democrats in Congress currently have limited power to counteract these trends.

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Threat to Habeas Corpus and Rule of Law

🎦 09:53-17:08⏩
Jonathan raises concerns about the potential repeal or functional non-existence of habeas corpus in the US. He defines habeas corpus as the legal procedure allowing individuals to challenge unlawful detention, a fundamental safeguard against authoritarian abuse of power and a right inherited from English common law and enshrined in the US Constitution. He notes historical suspensions during the Civil War and World War II, and Bush's attempt post-9/11 (which the Supreme Court rejected). He criticises Stephen Miller's proposal to suspend it now under the guise of an "invasion" of Venezuelan drug gangs, dismissing it as "disingenuous" and a means to "disappear brown-skinned people." Jonathan plays a clip of Stephen Miller asserting the Constitution allows suspension during an "invasion," which he claims is ongoing. Miller also incorrectly states that the Immigration and Nationality Act stripped Article III courts (the judicial branch) of jurisdiction over immigration cases, a claim PolitiFact refutes. Jonathan argues Miller uses technical language to sound knowledgeable but is "fooling you." He draws a chilling parallel to Adolf Hitler's elimination of habeas corpus in Germany in 1933 as a "warning." Jonathan also highlights Miller's contradiction: simultaneously claiming an "invasion" necessitates suspending habeas corpus while also stating border crossings are down by 95%, implying things are "improving." He concludes that such rhetoric shows a desire to suspend fundamental rights based on false pretences.

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Irregular ICE Operations and "Goon Squads"

🎦 17:11-19:19⏩
Jonathan presents evidence suggesting that federal agents are not always what they seem, particularly within ICE operations. Citing "Malcontent News," he details inconsistencies in the gear and insignia of individuals acting as federal agents. He notes that some gear appears "threadbare," officers have "multiple badges," and tactical equipment is configured in ways no trained professional would. This leads Jonathan to conclude that these are likely "militia members who have been pulled in" and that the federal government is "using thugs, armed thugs, to do their work." He warns that if they "look like a goon squad, if they're armed like a goon squad, if they act like a goon squad... then they are a goon squad," highlighting the unprecedented and incredible nature of such tactics in the United States.

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ICE "Wellness Checks" and Questionable Tactics

🎦 19:20-20:24⏩
Jonathan discusses disturbing incidents where ICE agents conduct "wellness checks" as "subterfuge" to gain access to homes. He cites a case where seven ICE agents swarmed a suburban house, interrogating a woman not only about immigration but also her sex life, and attempting to coerce her out of her home. The woman, Ashby Beasley, an activist, attempted to film the agents but was warned for "impeding," despite staying in her car. Jonathan emphasises the frequency of such videos, questioning the legitimacy of these "agents" and their methods, which appear designed to "scare" people into leaving their homes before "whisking them away."

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ICE Deputising Citizens & Lack of Accountability

🎦 20:25-21:09⏩
Jonathan reveals that ICE has signed over 500 agreements with 38 states, "deputizing everyday citizens to be ICE agents." He warns that these individuals "could be anyone," often lacking proper training or equipment. Jonathan stresses the dangers of this practice, questioning the accountability mechanisms – such as body cams or incident recording – that would typically apply to professional police forces. He argues that this transformation is leading the US not towards a "police state" but a "thug state," where the actions of these deputised citizens are unregulated and untraceable.

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ICE Cruelty and Abandonment of a 12-Year-Old Boy

🎦 21:10-23:15⏩
Jonathan shares a horrifying account from Waltham, Massachusetts, where ICE agents arrested an adult accompanying a 12-year-old boy, then drove off, abandoning the child on a sidewalk. Councillor Colleen Bradley-McArthur, who witnessed the event and tried to intervene, was filmed by ICE agents and intimidated by them driving onto the pavement. The agents refused to identify themselves, ignored legal observers, and broke "every norm of decency." The child was only reunited with family due to "brave volunteers." Jonathan condemns this behaviour as "cruelty" and a clear demonstration of what "authoritarianism looks like," lamenting the complete lack of humanity, compassion, and proper procedure.

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Wrongful Deportations by ICE

🎦 23:16-24:12⏩
Jonathan highlights a disturbing trend of wrongful deportations by ICE, noting that the Trump Department of Justice admitted to wrongly deporting a man to El Salvador just 28 minutes after a federal appeals court ordered them not to. This was the fourth known wrongful deportation to El Salvador, blamed on "a confluence of administrative errors and inadvertent administrative oversights" – or, as Jonathan translates it, a "cock up." He asserts that "the law of the land is being broken on a consistent basis," as ICE repeatedly ignores court judgments.

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ICE Raids Without Local Police Notification

🎦 24:12-25:19⏩
Jonathan details instances where ICE conducts raids without notifying local police, causing "mass panic" in communities like Plymouth, Massachusetts. Citizens are left unable to distinguish federal law enforcement from criminals, as "masked individuals with guns" are "taking away their neighbours." Jonathan warns this creates an opportunity for criminal gangs to impersonate agents and disappear people. He notes that local officials, like Plymouth Select Board Chair Kevin Canty, have condemned this "unacceptable behaviour" for putting both law enforcement and residents at risk, urging ICE to be "ashamed of themselves."

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Alleged White Supremacist Involvement in ICE Operations

25:21-26:42⏩

Return to top⤴️Jonathan raises serious concerns about the alleged involvement of white supremacist militias in ICE operations. He discusses theories that such groups are being used because of their desire to target "illegal immigrants or basically anyone with brown skin and black skin." He shows an image of an alleged ICE agent with a Norse tattoo, which he explains is a Norse symbol "co-opted by white supremacists." While not 100% conclusive, Jonathan suggests "the probability that this guy is a white supremacist... is very high," linking this to the aggressive behaviour seen in these operations.

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Arrest of Democratic Lawmaker's Aide in Congressional Office

26:42-28:01⏩Jonathan expresses shock at the arrest of a Democratic lawmaker's aide inside the Congressional Office, specifically an aide to Representative Jerry Nadler. Federal agents claimed they were conducting a "security check." Jonathan plays a video clip of the incident, describing it as "dodgy stuff going on here." He underscores the implication that "the guardrails are off" when such actions are taken against congressional staff, indicating a concerning escalation of executive power.

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FBI Prioritising Immigration Enforcement over White Collar Crime

28:02-28:40⏩Jonathan cites Reuters reports indicating that the Trump administration ordered the FBI to dedicate a third of its work to immigration enforcement, leading to the deprioritisation of "all white collar crime." He highlights the disturbing implication: "the richest people get to avoid any fear of arrest while the FBI runs up migrant workers." Jonathan notes the shift in focus from "worst criminals" to "low-wage workers trying to actually contribute to society by working," calling it "unbelievable."

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ICE Targets and Quotas: 3,000 Arrests Per Day

🎦 28:41-32:05⏩
Jonathan reveals that the Trump administration has set an ambitious goal for ICE: a minimum of 3,000 arrests every day, with plans to increase this number. He notes that the "one big, beautiful bill" allocates at least $147 billion more to achieve this. Jonathan expresses dismay at the "very officious, target-driven approach" that disproportionately impacts low-wage workers and those trying to abide by the law. He recounts a "disgusting" video where a family, including children in zip ties, were arrested at an immigration appointment they attended to follow legal procedures. Jonathan criticises this as "literally punishing people for following the rules" and "encouraging people to violate the law" by making it dangerous to comply.

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Employers Using ICE to Avoid Paying Workers

🎦 32:08-36:20⏩
Jonathan explores an alleged, highly exploitative practice where employers hire undocumented immigrants, then call ICE on payday to have them arrested, thereby avoiding paying wages. He cites a claim that this provides employers with "a month of free labour." Jonathan argues that if the government truly wanted to address illegal immigration, they should target employers who hire undocumented workers and hold them liable, rather than solely focusing on employees. He warns that deporting large numbers of workers would create a "massive labour hole," increasing labour costs and leading to inflation.

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Congresswoman Maxine Dexter's Oversight of ICE Detention Facilities

36:20-38:50⏩Jonathan shares the disturbing experience of Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, who conducted an unannounced oversight tour of a for-profit ICE detention facility in Tacoma, Washington. Despite being a lawmaker, she and her colleague had to "fight like hell" to hear stories from detainees. Dexter describes the facility as "harbouring the most heartbreaking stories," including a woman detained days before her wedding to a US citizen after 20 years in the country, and a legal permanent resident of 31 years, a father of three US citizens, also being held. Jonathan emphasises that this is not about "unfettered immigration" but about demanding that the law be followed "with compassion and humanity" and adhering to "due processes and the constitution." Dexter concludes that "Trump is detaining our neighbors, co-workers, and loved ones without guaranteed due process and no accountability. That's not American. That's authoritarianism."

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Trump Administration Considering "Immigrant Reality TV Show"

🎦 38:50-39:43⏩
Jonathan discusses reports from Sky News and the Daily Mail that the Trump administration is considering a reality TV show where immigrants would "compete for a prize of US citizenship" through tasks like trivia and civic challenges. While Snopes reports uncertainty about how much Kristi Noem (who is associated with the idea) knows, the rumour itself is concerning. Jonathan sarcastically asks if this could escalate to "The Hunger Games" or a "running man competition," highlighting the absurdity and dehumanising nature of such a proposal.

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Proposed $1 Billion Bonuses for ICE Agents

🎦 39:44-42:28⏩
Jonathan showcases a clip of Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz exposing Republicans' attempt to "sneak nearly $1 billion in bonuses to ICE agents into the spending bill." He questions how such a massive sum can be proposed for bonuses, especially when healthcare affordability is a concern. Moskowitz and Jamie Raskin, another Democrat, highlight the hypocrisy of discussing saving money while simultaneously proposing a $903 million bonus budget for ICE, which equates to an average of $42,000 per employee in addition to their salaries. Jonathan finds this "absolutely incredible" and "unconstitutional."

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Palantir's Growing Surveillance Role with US Government

🎦 42:28-47:45⏩
Jonathan delves into the extensive data scraping and surveillance activities of Palantir, a company founded by Peter Thiel, which has become increasingly entwined with the US government. He notes that it took only six weeks for ICE's partnership with Palantir to track immigrants to escalate to the government partnering with Palantir to "track all Americans." Wired reports ICE is paying Palantir $30 million for an "immigration OS surveillance platform" providing "near real-time data about people self-deporting." More broadly, Palantir employees have reportedly discussed creating a "digital ID for Americans," raising concerns about centralising sensitive data and the risk of misuse. Former Palantir engineer Linda Jha warned against repurposing collected data. Jonathan quotes Ian Smith Sr., who warns that Trump has handed Palantir the contract to build the "federal AI database," calling it "the single most dangerous consolidation of power in modern American history." Smith describes Palantir as a "surveillance machine born inside the CIA" and Thiel as a "billionaire oligarch" and "tech authoritarian." He argues that this amounts to "the merger of big tech, big government and artificial intelligence branded as patriotism," building "infrastructure for digital authoritarianism" and leading to a "digital beast system" that will assign risk scores and control access to essential services. Jonathan concludes that this tech overreach, especially in concert with the state, is "incredibly scary," regardless of political affiliation.

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Travel Warnings for US Visitors Due to Authoritarian Shift

47:45-51:58⏩Jonathan advises against visiting the US, stating that if authorities checked his social media, he would be "detained and deported." He shares a harrowing account of a 25-year-old Australian woman, Nikki, whose husband is a US Army lieutenant in Hawaii. Despite being ex-police and having a return flight, she was interrogated at Honolulu customs about "too many clothes" in her bag, accused of overstaying her visa, and questioned about her past police work and connections to gangs/cartels. Her phone was searched, and she was forced to sign a statement denying cartel involvement, provide fingerprints and a DNA swab. Denied entry, she spent the night in a federal prison cell next to a convicted murderer, was strip-searched, handcuffed, and publicly marched through the airport. Her family had no idea of her whereabouts, and she was injected with an unknown substance. Jonathan highlights that this "pure trauma" was inflicted despite officials admitting she had done "absolutely nothing wrong." Nikki now vows never to return to the US, forcing her husband to consider resigning from the military. Jonathan stresses that such incidents are becoming common and signal a concerning "police state" in America.

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US Visa Restrictions for Critics of Israel

52:09-53:25⏩Jonathan expresses concern that criticism of Israel can now lead to visa denial or rescission in the US. He refers to Senator Marco Rubio's stance, which effectively states that if you are critical of Israel, you "ain't getting a visa." Jonathan predicts that this, combined with other incidents, will cause spending from foreign visitors to fall by $8.5 billion this year, according to Oxford Economics, as people choose not to travel to the United States.

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Stripping of Environmental and Workers' Rights Regulations

53:27-54:19⏩Jonathan discusses a broader trend of legal deregulation, including the stripping away of environmental and workers' rights. He specifically mentions the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) planning to weaken rules curbing "forever chemicals" in drinking water, which were part of Joe Biden's efforts to limit public exposure to hazardous chemicals linked to serious illnesses. Jonathan sarcastically remarks that this shows the American government clearly has "people's health and security at the forefront," highlighting a disregard for public welfare in favour of deregulation.

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US Sanctions Against International Criminal Court (ICC)

54:21-55:14⏩Jonathan highlights the alarming situation where the ICC's chief prosecutor has lost email access and had his bank accounts frozen due to Trump administration sanctions over the court's decisions concerning Israel. American staffers at the ICC have been warned of arrest if they travel to the US, and NGOs have ceased cooperating with the court. Jonathan, citing Elliot Higgins from Bellingcat, frames this as an issue of "authoritarianism versus democracy," urging individuals to decide which side they support and to "fight." Higgins warns that without "proactive interventions," democratic regression towards authoritarianism is "inevitable."

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"White Genocide Myth" and Disordered Discourse

55:15-56:44⏩Jonathan revisits the "white genocide myth," noting that Elliot Higgins explains how this "far-right conspiracy" has been "gradually mainstreamed through right-wing media" and populist rhetoric, by selectively focusing on "farm attacks" stripped of overt white nationalist framing. Jonathan links this to his previous discussions on "disordered discourse" – a process where institutions are captured in real-time. He expresses a desire to further explore this concept with Elliot Higgins, as many viewers found his prior segment on the topic highly insightful.

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Trump Administration's "War on Harvard"

56:45-01:02:26⏩Jonathan discusses the Trump administration's "war on Harvard," stemming from its "hell bent" opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in education. The administration demanded that universities cease DEI practices in hiring and teaching, and dictate content and student demographics. When Harvard and other institutions refused, citing their autonomy, the US government responded by withdrawing federal funding for research and attempting to block student visas for foreign students. Harvard reportedly lost $2.2 billion in federal grants over alleged anti-Semitism and faced an unprecedented ban on admitting foreign students after refusing to hand over data on those involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Current international students were ordered to transfer or face deportation. Jonathan calls this "sinister and authoritarian" and a move towards a "1984 Big Brother police state," highlighting that even filming protests by international students could lead to visa issues, effectively removing freedom of speech and protest rights.

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Trump's Ignorance of Harvard Policy Decisions

01:02:27-01:05:13⏩Jonathan highlights a concerning exchange where Trump appeared to have "no clue" about the administration's actions against Harvard, specifically regarding the suspension of interviews for foreign student visas. He attributes this to Trump's alleged lack of engagement with intelligence briefings (which reportedly now need to be in short video form with images) and his superficial interaction with executive orders. Jonathan suggests Trump is "not clued up on anything that's happening" and is merely prompted into action without full understanding, indicating a potential disconnect between the President and significant policy decisions.

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Universities Expected to Align with Trump Administration Goals

01:05:14-01:06:20⏩Jonathan scrutinises remarks by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who stated that universities should continue research "as long as they're abiding by laws and in sync with what the Trump administration is trying to accomplish." Jonathan dismisses the "abiding by laws" part as "meaningless waffle," emphasising that the core demand is for institutions to "just do your bidding" and become compliant with the administration's political agenda. He views this as a clear sign of authoritarianism.

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Impact on US Academic Status and "Brain Drain"

01:06:20-01:12:12⏩Jonathan warns that the Trump administration's actions, such as gutting science funding and attacking universities like Harvard, will have long-term detrimental effects on the US economy and academic standing. He presents a chart showing a significant decline in international PhD applications to the US, while other countries like Australia, Switzerland, Germany, and the UK have seen increases. Jonathan points out that the US is actively "scaring away" international students and faculty who fear visa rescission if they express political dissent. He argues this will lead to a "brain drain," where talented individuals, particularly Chinese students who have historically contributed immensely to US tech and finance, will choose to study and work elsewhere. Jonathan cites an anecdote from his partner, who works in hard science academia, confirming that highly talented individuals are already leaving the US for fellowships and postdocs in other countries. He concludes that this "enormous mistake" will diminish the US's academic and business climate, benefiting other nations.

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Trump's False Claim of Pulitzer Prize Lawsuit "Win"

01:12:12-01:15:53⏩Jonathan addresses Trump's repeated claims of a "major win" in his lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize board, which Trump alleges illegally awarded prizes for "fake malicious stories" on the "Russia, Russia, Russia hoax." Trump, on True Social, boasted that a Florida court "viciously rejected the defendant's corrupt attempt to halt the case," implying a victory. Jonathan clarifies that this is "absolute nonsense." The court merely allowed the case to proceed, rejecting a request to pause it until Trump was no longer president. Jonathan highlights this as a "massive misrepresentation" and further evidence of Trump's pattern of "lies, lies, lies," particularly regarding legal processes, in his attempt to "defang America's newsrooms."

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Wrap up

🎦 01:15:53-01:16:46⏩
Jonathan concludes by reiterating his belief that the US is on an "inexorable march towards authoritarianism," marked by a "litany of legal malpractice." He describes the situation as "insanely scary" when one connects all the dots, noting that the issues discussed represent only an "infinitesimal fraction" of what is truly happening. He urges viewers to "stay alert, stay woke... be awake to what is happening in the United States politically and legally and informationally," emphasising that it is a "deeply worrying time." He thanks viewers for their patience and indulgence.

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