Empire Abroad, Fascism At Home, Trump's America w/ Jeet Heer | MR Live
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Trump's Venezuela intervention is characterized as a transparent corporate oil grab, lacking the usual pretense of national security or liberation.
- ❖The militarization of ICE and DHS, with agents acting as a 'paramilitary force,' is seen as imperial blowback from foreign wars.
- ❖New York City Mayor Zoron Mamani's rapid implementation of universal childcare and defense of sanctuary city policies is presented as a model for progressive governance.
- ❖Centrist policy wonks and Democratic leaders are criticized for 'Green Lanternism' and 'passive income politics,' failing to challenge the status quo or mobilize public opinion.
- ❖Public approval for ICE has collapsed, yet Democratic national leadership is perceived as failing to capitalize on this sentiment to push for reform or abolition.
- ❖The hosts argue that the blurring of lines between military and police functions, particularly with federal agents, is a hallmark of dictatorship and undermines constitutional principles.
- ❖CBS News's coverage of the ICE shooting is critiqued for its 'both sides' rhetoric, which is seen as obscuring reality and pacifying the public.
Insights
1Trump's 'Gangster Empire' Foreign Policy in Venezuela
Jeet Heer and Sam Seder describe Trump's intervention in Venezuela as a 'gangster empire' operation, focused purely on corporate plunder of oil assets. They assert that Trump openly admits the goal is oil, unlike previous administrations that used pretexts like 'liberation.' This approach, they argue, benefits hedge funders and oil executives, not the American public, and represents a continuity with 19th-century American foreign policy, albeit with a new, stark transparency.
Trump supposedly calls off a second wave of attacks on Venezuela as he meets with oil executives talking about how to divvy up their national assets (). Trump says it's for the oil, not narco-terrorism (). Republican public opinion now supports invading a country for oil (). Trump's 'one innovation' is saying things out loud that normally wouldn't be ().
2Progressive Governance in New York City as a Counter-Model
The hosts highlight New York City Mayor Zoron Mamani's rapid implementation of key progressive policies, including universal free daycare and a rent freeze for rent-controlled apartments, within eight days of taking office. This is presented as a direct refutation of centrist critiques that such policies are 'impractical at best' and 'could never happen.' Mamani also actively upheld sanctuary city policies, repealing previous administration orders allowing ICE collaboration on Riker's Island and clearly explaining citizens' rights.
Mamani announced universal free childcare for NYC and state expansion within eight days of office (). He repealed the previous administration's order allowing ICE collaboration on Riker's Island (). Mamani explained sanctuary city policies on national TV, countering Republican narratives ().
3Critique of Centrist 'Green Lanternism' and Status Quo Politics
Sam Seder and Jeet Heer criticize centrist policy wonks (e.g., Annie Lowry, Ezra Klein) for 'Green Lanternism' – the idea that politicians lack the 'superpowers' to enact change, thus justifying the status quo. They argue this is 'motivated reasoning for the status quo,' ignoring how leaders like Trump can shift public opinion and how effective governance can create 'facts on the ground' to enable policy changes, as seen with Mamani's administration.
Annie Lowry's piece called Mamani's policies 'impractical at best' (). The argument that Albany showed no interest in approving tax hikes for childcare is a static view of politics (). 'Green Lanternism' is described as a way to insist politicians can't move the needle on policies ().
4Escalation of Domestic Authoritarianism by ICE and DHS
The episode details the aggressive actions of ICE and DHS, including the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis and two people in Portland. The hosts frame these events as 'imperial blowback,' where militarized tactics from foreign wars are applied domestically. They highlight the deployment of 'paramilitary' ICE agents, their lack of accountability, and the Trump administration's strategy of escalation rather than de-escalation, which they argue aims to instill fear and suppress protest.
Federal thugs shoot two in Portland (). Revelations of Minnesota ICE shooter being a vet, MAGA, and on deportation beat for over a decade (). DHS is a 'war on terror creation' (). Trump administration sent 100 more ICE agents to Minneapolis after a shooting (). ICE agents operate without de-escalation strategy ().
5Democratic Leadership's Perceived Failure to Counter Authoritarianism
Sam Seder and Emma Vigland heavily criticize Democratic national leadership, particularly Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, for their perceived passivity and reluctance to confront the Trump administration's authoritarian actions. Schumer's response to the ICE shooting—calling for an investigation and lamenting lack of cooperation with local law enforcement—is seen as weak, 'both sides' rhetoric that undermines sanctuary city policies and fails to leverage Democratic power, such as controlling DHS funding.
Schumer's 'passive income politics' (). Schumer's comments on the ICE shooting: 'tragedies, horrible tragedies, killings occur' without local cooperation (). Schumer is seen as trying to avoid controversy and leverage (). Schumer's statement is compared to an Israeli official describing a child killed in the West Bank ().
6The Dangers of 'Gangster Empires' and Retreat to 'Fortress America'
Jeet Heer discusses the broader implications of Trump's foreign policy, framing it as a retreat to 'Fortress America' where the US claims the Western Hemisphere while allowing Russia and China more influence in their respective regions. This division of the world into 'gangster empires' or imperial blocks, driven by mercantilist ideas of territorial conquest rather than trade, is seen as a recipe for a 'century of war' and a major threat to humanity's ability to cooperate on global challenges like climate change and pandemics.
Trump's foreign policy is an 'empire in retreat' (). The US gets the Western Hemisphere, while Russia and China get their way (). Dividing the world into big chunks undermines international cooperation (). Trump's view is 18th/19th-century mercantilism, where control of resources is wealth ().
7Local Resistance and Accountability as a Crucial Defense
The episode emphasizes the importance of local leaders and community resistance in confronting federal overreach. Examples include New York City's Mamani upholding sanctuary policies and Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner vowing to prosecute any ICE agent who commits crimes in his city. This local pushback, coupled with public outrage and documentation of abuses, is presented as a vital, direct challenge to the expanding power of federal paramilitary forces, especially in the absence of strong national Democratic leadership.
Mamani's executive order to repeal ICE collaboration (). Larry Krasner's statement: 'If any ICE agent is going to come to Philly to commit crimes... I will charge you' (). Videotaping confrontations with ICE provides security ().
Bottom Line
The current global political landscape, characterized by Trump's 'gangster empire' approach and the division into imperial blocks, will likely lead to increased nuclear proliferation as smaller nations seek to 'sit at the table' and defend themselves.
This suggests a future of heightened global instability and conflict, where international cooperation on critical issues like climate change becomes increasingly difficult, potentially jeopardizing human survival.
Progressive movements could advocate for a foreign policy centered on international cooperation and diplomacy, actively challenging the 'gangster empire' model and promoting global interdependence as a path to peace and shared survival.
The perceived passivity of centrist Democratic leadership in the face of escalating federal authoritarianism is creating a vacuum that local progressive leaders are attempting to fill, often with direct, confrontational tactics against federal agencies.
This dynamic could lead to a significant power struggle within the Democratic party, potentially forcing a realignment as the base becomes more radicalized and demands more assertive leadership. It also highlights the growing importance of local elections as sites of resistance.
Activists and voters can actively support and empower local progressive candidates and movements, using their successes as leverage to push for similar changes and more assertive stances at the national level, potentially 'overthrowing the leadership of the party' from the bottom up.
Lessons
- Push Democratic national leadership to take a stronger, more confrontational stance against federal overreach and authoritarian tactics, particularly regarding ICE and DHS funding.
- Support and amplify local progressive leaders and movements that are actively resisting federal abuses and implementing policy alternatives, such as universal childcare and robust sanctuary city protections.
- Actively document and challenge ICE and DHS actions in communities, understanding that public visibility and legal pushback are crucial in holding these agencies accountable and deterring further abuses.
Notable Moments
Discussion of New York City Mayor Zoron Mamani's rapid policy implementation, including universal childcare, within eight days of taking office, directly refuting centrist critiques.
This moment highlights a successful model of progressive governance that actively challenges the narrative of 'impractical' leftist policies and demonstrates the potential for rapid, impactful change when political will is present.
Critique of CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil's segment on the Renee Good shooting, specifically his use of 'both sides' rhetoric and AI-like, substanceless commentary.
This exemplifies the hosts' frustration with mainstream media's perceived failure to clearly report on and condemn authoritarian actions, instead opting for a pacifying, 'fair and balanced' approach that obscures reality.
Jesse Ventura's strong condemnation of the Republican party as a 'domestic enemy' to the Constitution and his warning about the military functioning as police officers leading to dictatorship.
Ventura's direct and forceful language, as a former governor and independent figure, provides a powerful, non-partisan voice against the perceived slide into authoritarianism, resonating with the hosts' core arguments.
Footage and discussion of an Uber driver at Minneapolis airport confidently challenging multiple armed CBP/ICE agents, embarrassing them on video.
This illustrates the power of individual resistance, knowing one's rights, and public documentation in confronting federal agents, providing a tangible example of how citizens can push back against perceived overreach.
Quotes
"Trump always says, you know, we're not doing regime change wars anymore. I guess in a sense this is right because it is not you're not changing the regime, you're keeping the regime in place but you know changing the leader."
"The centrists and people who don't want to change the system act like politics is static... they will argue that nothing can change because of the situations that currently exist."
"I don't know if I've heard another prominent Democratic politician talk about what sanctuary city laws actually are. Cuz for so long the Republicans have defined it as like basically weak on crime soft liberals in cities who are not making you safe."
"I don't think anyone listening to this program has personally profited from any of these imperial ventures. I mean that is actually one of the sort of, you know, illusions created by any sort of like nationalist politics."
"We need a quick and full investigation to get to the bottom of this. But when you have these ICE agents all over the streets of our cities without any cooperation with local law enforcement, local communities, tragedies, horrible tragedies, killings occur."
"If any law enforcement agent, any ICE agent is going to come to Philly to commit crimes, then you can get the f*** out of here. Because if you do that here, I will charge you with those crimes. You will be arrested. You will stand trial. You will be convicted."
"I took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I view after January 6th, the Republican party is a domestic enemy to our Constitution."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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