David Dayen on ICE Operations, Government Funding, and Trump's Populism

ICE Operations and Public Response

• 🎯 ICE operations in Minneapolis, involving over 2,000 agents for a city of 400,000, have led to significant public response, including protests and violence.
• 💡 David Dayen argues that people-powered movements, rather than politicians, are crucial for responding to such situations, drawing parallels to the Civil Rights Movement.
• ⚠️ The stated goal of ICE actions, like the murder of Renee Good, was to deter protests, but it has instead fueled greater determination among activists.

Government Funding and Political Stance

• 🏛️ A potential government shutdown is unlikely, with Congress likely to pass full-year funding for most departments, except possibly Homeland Security.
• 💰 Even without full funding, ICE has access to a $75 billion reserve for enforcement and removal operations, making a funding stand-off politically ineffective.
• 🗣️ Politicians may adopt rhetoric against unpopular agencies like ICE, but Dayen believes this won't sway public opinion or significantly alter agency operations.

Trump's Populist Rhetoric and Policy

• 📢 Trump's policy pronouncements, such as capping credit card bills or banning corporate investors from buying homes, are characterized as "Wizard of Oz populism" – grand statements with no real apparatus or belief behind them.
• 📉 Trump's past actions, like dismantling the CFPB and reversing a ban on credit card late fees, contradict his current policy proposals, highlighting a lack of genuine commitment.
• 🤷 The theory behind Trump's approach seems to be a belief that his declarations will become reality or that his audience will believe anything he says due to his prominent platform.

The Insurrection Act and Political Strategy

• 🚨 The Insurrection Act remains a potential tool for federalizing the National Guard or using US military troops on American soil, last used during the 1992 LA riots.
• ⚖️ A Supreme Court ruling preventing federalizing the National Guard without using the Insurrection Act may force a more direct approach if such action is taken.
• 📺 Despite threats, Trump's use of the Insurrection Act is seen as unlikely due to the negative public image of military intervention in American cities, even if his "lizard brain" desires it.