ICE at illegal marijuana farms; New data on midterm enthusiasm; Kamala, Tim Walz, and Diet Mt. Dew

Summary

Podcast Summary: 10 Minute Drill – "ICE at Illegal Marijuana Farms; New Data on Midterm Enthusiasm; Kamala, Tim Walz, and Diet Mt. Dew"

Release Date: July 15, 2025
Host: Matt Whitlock

Matt Whitlock's "10 Minute Drill" offers a comprehensive and engaging rundown of the most pressing news and political stories. In this episode, Whitlock delves into the recent ICE raids on illegal marijuana farms, unveils new data on midterm election enthusiasm, and explores intriguing insights into the Biden administration's VP selection process, highlighting figures like Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. The episode also touches on a thought-provoking New York Times article about family dynamics across political divides and examines JP Morgan Chase's latest fintech policies. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.

---

1. ICE Raids on Illegal Marijuana Farms

Timestamp: [00:37] – [02:22]

Ben Shapiro initiates the discussion by addressing the high-profile ICE raids at farms in California. He criticizes the Democratic rhetoric against ICE and the Trump administration, highlighting the underlying issues within immigration policies.

• Illegal Activities Uncovered:

  • Details: The raids targeted illegal marijuana farms operating as sanctuaries for violent criminals and potentially involving child labor.
  • Arrests: A total of 361 illegal aliens were apprehended, including individuals with convictions for serious crimes such as rape, kidnapping, and child molestation. Notably, eight unaccompanied minors were found, raising concerns about child labor.

• Governor Gavin Newsom's Response:

  • Critique: Shapiro condemns Governor Newsom for conflating legal and illegal immigrants in his commentary.
  • Quote: “Gavin Newsom doesn’t differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants. In this case, illegal immigrants are the ones that are working at illegal marijuana farms using child labor, legal immigrants are the people that are here working, legally, paying taxes...” ([00:37]).

• Impact on Hispanic Voters:

  • Analysis: Shapiro argues that Newsom's failure to distinguish between immigrant statuses is alienating Hispanic voters, contributing to a decline in Democratic support within this demographic.

• Polling Insights:

  • Quote by Michael Knowles: “A majority of Americans... want to deport all immigrants who are here illegally.” ([02:22]).

2. Biden’s Auto Pen Scandal

Timestamp: [02:38] – [04:05]

Shapiro shifts focus to allegations surrounding President Joe Biden's use of an "auto pen" for issuing pardons, as reported by The New York Times.

• Mechanism of the Auto Pen:

  • Details: The New York Times alleges that Biden did not personally approve each pardon but rather delegated the task to his staff, who then used an automated process to finalize decisions.
  • Quote: “Jeff Zients... wrote, I approve the use of the auto pen for the execution of all of the following pardons.” ([02:38]).

• Controversial Pardons:

  • Notable Figures: The list included individuals like Dr. Fauci, raising questions about the criteria and oversight in the pardon process.

• Congressional Implications:

  • Outlook: Shapiro anticipates increased Congressional scrutiny, with the House Oversight Committee already involving former Biden aides to investigate the matter further.

3. VP Selection: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

Timestamp: [04:05] – [05:00]

The conversation transitions to insights from the book "2024," revealing the dynamics behind Vice President Kamala Harris's selection of Tim Walz as her running mate.

• Selection Criteria:

  • Shapiro's Favorite: Harris reportedly chose Tim Walz because he wasn't overly ambitious and assured she could focus on the presidency without concern for his presidential aspirations.
  • Strategic Choices: Harris distanced herself from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, fearing he might overshadow her within the ticket.

• Diet Mountain Dew Anecdote:

  • Insightful Detail: During final interviews, while other candidates opted for water, Walz chose Diet Mountain Dew, symbolizing his appeal to rural voters.
  • Quote: “Who knew that Diet Mountain Dew was the secret elixir of rural America?” ([04:07]).

• Political Outreach Critique:

  • Strategy Concerns: Shapiro critiques the Democratic Party's investment in understanding male voters through unconventional means, such as employing figures like David Hogg and effeminate TikTok influencers, suggesting a misalignment with core male demographics.

4. 2026 Midterm Cycle and Fundraising

Timestamp: [05:03] – [06:09]

Whitlock and Shapiro discuss the shifting landscape of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, contrasting it with previous cycles.

• Fundraising Surge:

  • Super PAC Performance: Super PACs affiliated with House Speaker Mike Johnson, namely the Congressional Leadership Fund and the American Action Network, have raised unprecedented funds, outpacing Democratic counterparts by $20 million early in the cycle.
  • Quote: “Their strongest start to an off year cycle ever. $20 million more than Democrats best haul to start a non-election year.” ([05:03]).

• Democratic Challenges:

  • Poll Findings: Recent polling by Unite the Country reveals that Democrats are perceived as out of touch, weak, and excessively "woke," with approval ratings below 35%.
  • Voter Demographics: Support among white men, Hispanic men, and working-class voters is declining.
  • Historical Comparison: Shapiro notes the lower enthusiasm compared to post-2024 election results.

• Underlying Reasons:

  • Political Strategy: Shapiro attributes Democrats' struggles to strategic missteps and ineffective outreach, subtly referencing the earlier discussion on Tim Walz and the broader theme of political misalignment.

5. New York Times on Conservative Families

Timestamp: [06:12] – [05:00]

The episode shifts to a critique of a New York Times article titled "Is it Time to Stop Snubbing Your Right-Wing Family," authored by former Obama speechwriter David Litt.

• Personal Anecdote:

  • Host's Experience: Shapiro shares a personal story about feeling compelled to distance himself from his wife's conservative brother, illustrating the broader societal divide.
  • Quote: “If you ever feel a civic duty to be rude to somebody, that's not your civic duty speaking, you're just kind of a jerk.” ([06:12]).

• Contrasting Lifestyles:

  • Example: Highlighting differences between himself (a former Obama speechwriter with an Ivy League background) and his brother-in-law Matt Kapler (a Joe Rogan enthusiast and electrician).
  • Humorous Insight: "Who knew that Diet Mountain Dew was the secret elixir of rural America?" ([04:07]).

• Underlying Message:

  • Elitism Critique: Shapiro criticizes the Democratic shift towards elitism, where dissenting views within family circles are seen as personal affronts rather than opportunities for dialogue.
  • Advice: Encourages listeners to "touch grass" and embrace the country's diverse political landscape, fostering unity despite differences.

6. JP Morgan Chase’s Fintech Fees and Debanking

Timestamp: [05:00] – [End]

The final segment addresses JP Morgan Chase's recent move to impose new fees on fintech companies, effectively acting as a "tax on innovation."

• New Fees Details:

  • Impact on Fintechs: Companies like Venmo, Coinbase, and Robinhood will face higher costs to access customer data for banking transactions, affecting everyday activities like splitting restaurant bills.

• Industry Reaction:

  • Public Policy Solutions’ View: Wilhild characterizes the move as a "power grab" aimed at stifling competition and preserving big banks' dominance, particularly against fintech innovators.
  • Quote: “Big banks are making a desperate move to try and crush competition and preserve their power to debank conservatives.” ([05:00]).

• Historical Context – Operation Chokepoint:

  • Origins: Initiated during the Obama administration in 2013, Operation Chokepoint targeted businesses deemed high-risk, including firearm dealers and payday lenders, expanding to include conservative groups.

• Current Implications:

  • Debanking Tactics: The trend now extends to financial technologies, threatening access for conservative-leaning customers and businesses.
  • Political Ramifications: Anticipated Congressional attention, with potential interventions from the Trump administration focusing on consumer choice and opposition to restrictive banking practices.

• Future Outlook:

  • Regulatory Scrutiny: As big banks leverage their influence to limit fintech growth, ongoing debates will center around innovation, competition, and political bias in financial services.

---

Matt Whitlock's "10 Minute Drill" skillfully navigates through a multitude of complex and interrelated topics, providing listeners with insightful analysis and critical perspectives on current political and economic issues. From immigration enforcement and presidential scandals to electoral strategies and financial sector maneuvers, this episode encapsulates the dynamic nature of American politics, offering valuable takeaways for both avid followers and casual listeners alike.

Transcript

[Ben Shapiro]

Immigration raids turn ugly as Democrats ratchet up their rhetoric. New revelations in the Biden auto pen scandal and cover up. And the New York Times believes that it might be time to stop shunning your conservative family. We have all that. We have new polling and so much more today on 10 Minute Drill. Everybody get up. Get up. The story of America is the story of an adventure.

[Michael Knowles]

I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. We are a nation under God and I believe God intended for us to be free.

[Ben Shapiro]

Last week, there were high profile raids at farms in California. Democrats jumped in and attacked ICE and the Trump administration for targeting families picking our food. One protester even opened fire at law enforcement. Turned out it was an illegal marijuana farm and a sanctuary from some terrifying violent criminals and also potentially child labor. 361 illegal aliens were arrested, including criminals with convictions for rape, kidnapping, child molestation, burglary, hit and run and dui. And among them, there were eight unaccompanied minors potentially being used for child labor. California Governor Gavin Newsom used this inflection point to try and troll JD Vance, who was with his family at Disneyland. Newsom tweeted, 35% of Anaheim's residents are immigrants. Disneyland doesn't run without them. Enjoy their labor. J.D. vance, you'll notice there that Gavin Newsom doesn't differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants. In this case, illegal immigrants are the ones that are working at illegal marijuana farms using child labor, legal immigrants. So the people that are here working, legally, paying taxes, getting screwed by Gavin Newsom's immigration policies that are one, giving free health care to illegal immigrants and giving them cash cards so that they're incentivized to jump the line over the illegal immigrants and their family members trying to go through the process here. Another wrinkle that came out was the owner of this farm employing incredibly dangerous criminal illegal immigrants and potentially child labor from unaccompanied minors is also a Gavin Newsom donor. The failure to differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants the way that Newsom did there is one of many reasons Hispanic voters are continuing to turn against Democrats. And they're not alone. Here's another poll from cnn.

[Michael Knowles]

So what you're seeing essentially here is very clear indication that a majority of Americans, in fact, when they're asked this blunt question, which I believe gets at the underlying feelings, do in fact want to deport all immigrants who are here illegally.

[Ben Shapiro]

New revelations from the New York Times about Joe Biden and the auto pen scandal. According to the New York Times, Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons. Rather than ask Biden to keep signing revised versions, his staff waited and then ran the final version through the auto pen, which they saw as routine. And then getting into who is making the calls and approvals for how the auto pen is used. New York Times reported that Jeff Zients, former Biden Chief of Staff, three minutes later, Mr. Zients hit reply all and wrote, I approve the use of the auto pen for the execution of all of the following pardons. So all the following pardons. There's a lot of questions about the paper trail between the generation of a list of people to pardon that included people like Dr. Fauci, who is in that final list that Zients himself approved that Biden himself did not necessarily give final approval to. So we're going to continue to hear. This is the kind of thing that will drive more Congress interest. The House Oversight Committee has already brought in a number of former Biden aides to speak about this, and I think this will drive a whole new wave of questions. Last week we talked about the new book 2024, which has had a lot of revelations about the Harris campaign. One of the latest stories that came out of that was the final stage of the VP selection process, where Kamala Harris landed on our favorite Tim Waltz. The book reports that Harris picked Waltz because he wasn't overly ambitious and that he promised that he would never run for president.

[Michael Knowles]

And I'm a knucklehead at times.

[Ben Shapiro]

She turned against Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro because she was worried he might outshine her. But one of the more interesting anecdotes in this chapter was about Diet Mountain Dew. All three candidates did a final interview with Harris at her residence, the book explains, adding that when asked what they wanted to drink, Shapiro and Kelly chose water, while Waltz chose Mountain Dew. Appeal with rural voters was a top priority for the Harris ticket, and the book states that Harris advisors felt that Waltz was the best candidate to do that. Who knew that Diet Mountain Dew was the secret elixir of rural America? But it's not a surprise that the political party that spent $20 million to understand men based on their syntax has landed on things like employing David Hogg and effeminate TikTok influencers with floppy hair as their strategic outreach to men. We just hope they never stop leaning on the talent of the one and only Tim Waltz.

[Michael Knowles]

And I'm a knucklehead at times.

[Ben Shapiro]

One theme that we've Talked about on 10 Minute Drill is that this 2026 midterm cycle we're moving towards feels a lot different than 2017 and 2018, President Trump's first term midterm cycle and one of the latest reasons for that bonkers new fundraising numbers from the Congressional Leadership Fund and the American action network. The two Super PACs tied closely to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Their strongest start to an off year cycle ever. $20 million more than Democrats best haul to start a non election year. Meanwhile, new polling shows that Democrats are continuing to struggle. The group Unite the country's latest poll, which was conducted with voters in 21 battleground counties across 10 battleground states, found that Democrats are still seen as out of touch, weak and woke. Their support with white men, Hispanic men and working class voters continues to drop. Their party approval rating is still under 35% and are seeing lower, lower, lower enthusiasm than they had in November 2024 when they lost the election. I think we all know the answer here, and it's more Tim Waltz and.

[Michael Knowles]

I'm a Knucklehead at Times.

[Ben Shapiro]

New York Times had a headline over the weekend that turned a lot of heads, Is it time to stop snubbing your right wing family? And it was written by former Obama speech writer David Litt. Now we're unpack this just a little bit because I thought it was very funny. Not too long ago I felt a civic duty to be rude to my wife's younger brother. Now if you ever feel a civic duty to be rude to somebody, that's not your civic duty speaking, you're just kind of a jerk. I met Matt Kapler in 2012 and it was immediately clear we had nothing in common. He lifted weights to death metal. I jogged to Sondheim. I was one of President Barack Obama's speechwriters and had an Ivy League degree. He was a huge Joe Rogan fan and went on to get his electrician's license. So again, the juxtaposition here of explaining why he is better than this brother in law highlights why Democrats are in such a tough position. This goes back to the Obama years as Democrats started shifting more and more towards that elitist position of either you agree with me and everything I have to say or you are lesser. Now the story overall has a valuable lesson. He learns to love his brother in law despite his toxic conservatism because they go surfing together and enjoy their time together. But earlier in the story, there's a moment where he he thinks about breaking off all contact altogether because the brother in law had some concerns and questions about vaccinations. He writes, my frostiness wasn't personal, it was strategic. Being unfriendly to people who turned down the vaccine felt like the right thing to do. How else could we motivate them to mend their ways? So once again he's approaching this from a position of I know more than you and am better than you and it is my responsibility to use our relationship to try and drive better behavior out of you first. Do we even know if the brother in law likes you enough to care if you leveraging your relationship to get him to do something is gonna work? But also, this just goes back to the fact that if you've ever felt motivated to cut off a relationship or treat someone differently based on a difference in political views, please touch grass, get outside. The differences we have in political views and understandings are really what makes this country work. So please again, touch some grass, get outside and ENJ life a little more On Friday, America's biggest bank, JP Morgan Chase, announced new fees on fintech companies. Companies like Venmo, Coinbase, Robinhood will now have to pay new exorbitant fees to access the customer data that customers have decided to share with them so that they can do banking transactions. If you're splitting a check at a restaurant, there will be new fees on those companies. It is being called a tax on innovation and a power grab by some big banks by Public Policy Solutions, Wilhild said. Just in the big banks are making a desperate move to try to crush competition and preserve their power to debank conservatives. Their latest tactic? Effectively charging customers a tax to access their own personal data and provide it to fintech companies. That phrase debanking you may have heard before. It effectively began with a 2013 Obama era initiative called Operation Chokepoint where the US Department of Justice investigated banks in the United States and businesses they did with firearm dealers, payday lenders and other companies, while operating legally, were said to be at a high risk for fraud and money laundering. That changed the lens through which banks defined reputational risk to include political risk, and it allowed banks to deny any access to banking and funding to anyone on the conservative side of the aisle on a number of issues. What began with Second Amendment groups extended to pro life groups in a number of of different conservative organizations. And so, as Wilhild is describing there, this debanking trend is now being used by big banks to stifle the banking activities of anyone who uses these financial technology platforms. And we also know a lot of these big banks are run by people who are hostile to cryptocurrency, digital currencies and things like that. So this will be an interesting issue for Congress and the Trump administration to watch as these big banks attempt to use their power to push out smaller financial technologies that we rely on every day. And we expect the Trump administration to be particularly interested because of their focus on consumer choice and allowing people to use the home appliances they like, the financial technology tools they like all the different things that make life easier that the Biden administration and other past administrations have attempted to limit. That is all the time we have for today. Thank you so much for joining us on 10 Minute Drill. Please subscribe like tell your friends. Thanks again.