Podcast Summary

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Episode: Sen Ruben Gallego. Will He Run for President? Can He Stop ICE?
Date: February 10, 2026
Guest: Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)

Episode Overview

In episode 437, host Paul Rieckhoff welcomes Senator Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, Democrat, and junior senator from Arizona, for a compelling discussion rooted in the five "I"s: independence, integrity, information, inspiration, and impact. Topics span ICE's ongoing abuses, the mental health impact on children, ICE's veteran recruitment, national security, the Insurrection Act, and Gallego's potential presidential ambitions. The episode’s tone is passionate, urgent, and unflinching, reflecting both Rieckhoff’s and Gallego’s commitment to challenging injustice and supporting American values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ICE Abuses and National Outrage

• ICE Raids: Rieckhoff shares disturbing, recent examples of ICE raids traumatizing families and children nationwide (05:00–08:47).
  • Quote: “They have no regard for people’s children. They have no accountability. This is what they’re doing. It’s scarring and it’s scarring our kids. The trauma does not go away.” – Paul Rieckhoff (08:47)
• ICE Stats: DHS memo: Less than 14% of the 400,000 people arrested by ICE in Trump’s first year had violent criminal records.
• Bipartisan Disgust: Rieckhoff and Gallego note outrage is now bipartisan. One-third of ICE agents are veterans; Rieckhoff is launching a campaign urging veterans, “Don’t join ICE, join us.”
  • Quote: “We want to give them a place to serve and be connected that might not end up putting them in a jail cell themselves.” – Paul Rieckhoff (09:42)
• Disbanding vs. Reforming ICE (32:56–38:27):
  • Gallego advocates defunding, starving ICE of resources, and ultimately overhauling or disbanding the agency, stating its culture and command climate are too corrupted.
    • Quote: "ICE is done. We have to change the name of it, put it under a new department. You have to go back and just take out the rot of all the leadership that even allowed this to happen." – Sen. Ruben Gallego (37:56)

2. Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, and Latino Representation

• Cultural Impact: Gallego discusses the importance of Latino visibility during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show (29:08–30:54).
  • Quote: “What a monumental thing it was for us to see our story unfold… and making a lot of us feel that we are part of America.” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (29:08)
• Puerto Rican & D.C. Statehood: Gallego supports Puerto Rico and D.C. statehood if their populations desire it but notes complexities and internal divisions (31:11–32:18).

3. National Strike and the Insurrection Act

• Insurrection Act Alarm: Gallego warns about Trump’s potential use of the Insurrection Act to override democracy during elections (40:54–44:32).
  • Quote: “We need to bring this economy to a grinding halt. Because what you have right now is you have people that believe that the economy is more important to democracy. And it’s not, and it will never be.” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (41:45)
  • Solution: Gallego urges preparation for a national strike if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act: “Everyone stops what you’re doing … We need to bring this economy to a grinding halt.” (41:52)

4. Veterans Issues and VA Secretary Doug Collins

• VA Under Fire: Veteran suicides remain high, despite VA claims of progress.
• Resignation Call: Gallego says he regrets confirming Doug Collins as VA Secretary, stating his leadership is ideologically driven and detrimental:
  • Quote: “I think he should step down. I don’t think he actually is doing a benefit to … the VA.” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (45:09)

5. Outlook on Technology: Drones and AI

• Innovation & Caution: Gallego sees great potential for drones and AI to improve lives—if regulated to prevent harm (47:59–49:37).
  • Quote: “We can’t be afraid to actually try to tame that monster, but we also can’t be afraid of that monster.” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (49:18)

6. Independent Politics & Presidential Ambitions

• Independents in Focus: Both Rieckhoff and Gallego note the failures of both major parties and the increasing importance of courting independent voters.
• Presidential Rumblings: Gallego, when pressed, says he’s focused on 2026 but doesn’t rule out a 2028 presidential run (49:37–50:13).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE’s Culture:
  “If you have this many men and women designed to go after people, they’re going to end up going after people... we need to trim this down to where the American people want.” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (35:56)

• On a National Strike Response:
  “We need to bring this economy to a grinding halt. Because what you have right now is you have people that believe that the economy is more important to democracy. And it’s not, and it will never be.” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (41:45)

• On the Human Toll of ICE:
  “They have no regard for people’s children. They have no accountability. This is what they’re doing. It’s scarring and it’s scarring our kids.” – Paul Rieckhoff (08:47)

• On Technology’s Double-Edged Sword:
  “If we…figure out how to work with [AI], how to tame it… we could have some great things that are going to end up being life-saving…But we have to not be afraid of it…” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (49:18)

• On Puerto Rican Statehood:
  “I’ve always been a supporter of Puerto Rican statehood if the Puerto Ricans want it themselves. And I support D.C. statehood too.” – Sen. Ruben Gallego (31:11)

• On Presidential Candidacy:
  “A lot of folks want you to run for president. Are you going to run for president?”
  “Keep on trying, my friend…but you know, we're here to help get the Democratic message out … we still need to win independents going into the future…” – (49:37–50:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• ICE Family Abuses & Call for Action: 05:00–09:42
• Veteran Recruitment, ‘Don’t Join ICE’ Campaign: 10:00–11:30
• Interview Intro – Gallego Joins: 25:00
• Super Bowl & Latino Representation: 27:00–31:00
• ICE Defunding, Reform, and Culture: 32:56–38:27
• National Strike & Insurrection Act: 40:54–44:32
• VA Critique & Gallego Calls for Resignation: 45:09–46:11
• Tech Optimism and Caution (AI & Drones): 47:59–49:37
• Run for President? Gallego Responds: 49:37–50:13

Closing Thoughts

Paul Rieckhoff and Senator Ruben Gallego deliver a forceful, urgent call for vigilance and action in the face of abuses by ICE, threats to democracy, and partisan failures. The conversation is rich with personal stories, frontline perspectives, and concrete calls for change—especially to defund and overhaul ICE, support traumatized communities, hold officials accountable, and prepare for dramatic defense of democracy if needed.

Sen. Gallego’s leadership on veterans’ issues, forthright critique of ICE, and readiness to champion independent American values—possibly nationwide—anchors this timely episode. As always, the show maintains a tone of righteous anger, hope, and a focus on unity and action.