Podcast Summary: It Could Happen Here

Episode: Executive Disorder: ICE Body Cams, Fulton Election Raid, Portland Protest
Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts: Garrison Davis, James Stout, Mia Wong, Robert Evans

Episode Overview

This episode of "Executive Disorder," the weekly newscast edition of It Could Happen Here, covers the news of the week (Jan 28 – Feb 4), focusing on U.S. political unrest, ICE body camera policies, escalating protests and law enforcement crackdowns in Portland and Minneapolis, a dramatic federal raid in Fulton County, Georgia, and related stories around election security, government transparency, and immigration policy. The episode maintains the show's signature irreverence, dark humor, and skepticism of official narratives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Culture Wars & Turning Point Halftime Show (01:24–04:51)

• Light banter opens the episode with jokes about the Turning Point USA “All American Halftime Show” to coincide with the Super Bowl, poking fun at the right-wing event's underwhelming lineup.
  • “I'm excited for Lee Brice, obviously, as the biggest Bryce head on the pod. Bryce is going to be huge.” – Garrison Davis (02:20)
• The hosts mock the production values and the right’s attempts at cultural relevance, segueing into the real news.

Massive Union-Led ICE Protest in Portland (05:27–10:41)

• James Stout gives a first-hand report on major anti-ICE marches in Portland, noting the diversity—mostly in terms of age—and massive turnout (“about 5 to 10,000 people”), calling it the biggest in decades.
  • “...the crowd went past me for like 20 straight minutes, and I was like, yeah, that might be 10,000 people. That really is quite a lot of motherfucking people.” – James Stout (05:57)
• Despite a peaceful setup, ICE deployed tear gas, affecting children and elderly in a crowd trapped by urban geography. Marches continued, escalating public anger—including within city government.
  • “A lot of kids got gassed. I saw a number of children in significant distress... It was straight up a bad time.” – James Stout (06:38)
  • The mayor, Keith Wilson, called for ICE agents to resign.
• The episode highlights the symbolic nature of the ICE facility and doubts about real policy outcomes.

Health Concerns

• Extended discussion about tear gas, especially its unknown but suspected dangers to reproductive health, particularly for young people assigned female at birth.
  • “It's bad. There's evidence from places like Gaza that it can cause miscarriages.” – James Stout (10:46)
  • “How are we going to obtain proof in this scenario?” – Garrison Davis (11:53)
• The government’s historical neglect of women in previous studies is called out.

ICE Protests & Crackdown in Minneapolis (18:20–22:44)

• James and Garrison note the partial withdrawal of federal agents from Minneapolis (700 out, 2,000 remain) after a surge of border enforcement personnel.
  • “2000 is still a massive amount of ICE's overall capacity. These aren’t all ICE agents... a lot of Border Patrol guys here.” – James Stout (18:56)
• Journalist Don Lemon and several activists charged under the FACE act for protest coverage; Georgia Fort, head of the National Association of Black Journalists, also arrested.
  • The episode underscores the importance of press rights, observing that citizen journalists deserve First Amendment protection.
  • “There isn't a special First Amendment for us... When the Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretty, they killed someone who was at that time engaged in journalism too.” – James Stout (22:24)

Congressional Negotiations & ICE Body Cameras (22:53–29:43)

• Funding for DHS is at stake in Congress, with debate around reforms (e.g., mandatory body cameras for ICE, agents not wearing masks).
  • “Schumer pushing for certain things like, not wearing masks... also emphasizing...we want the masks off and the cameras on, as if that's going to affect the behavior...” – Garrison Davis (26:05)
• The hosts critically analyze the efficacy and implementation of ICE body cam policies, noting starts and abrupt cuts under both Biden and Trump administrations.
  • “The Trump administration... has called Congress to cut funding for body worn cameras by 75% and reduce the staffing... from 22 people to just three.” – James Stout (25:04)
• Documented cases, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretty, show that agents are often unfazed by recording—sometimes self-recording violence—and body cam footage is usually withheld from the public.
• Rising public sentiment against ICE is noted: “79% of Democrats support abolishing ICE. ...46% to 44% overall.” – Garrison Davis (29:43)

Legal Developments, Whistleblowers, and Morale (29:43–33:21)

• Court halts DHS from requiring a 7-day notice for Congressional detention center inspections.
• Massive DOJ turnover in Minnesota: “Another eight attorneys... have left or announced intentions to leave... they are now operating at less than half the capacity... since the early Biden administration.” – Garrison Davis (30:10)
• Prosecutors are exhausted and demoralized, undercut by agency noncompliance:
  • “I'm here just trying to make sure that the agency understand how important it is to comply with all the court orders, which they have not done...” – Federal prosecutor in court transcript (30:52)
• Humor at Greg Bevino (embattled ICE official) road tripping home, highlights surreal bureaucracy.

FBI Raid on Fulton County Election Office (34:02–39:34)

• Major Story: On Jan 28, the FBI seizes ~700 boxes of 2020 ballots in Georgia as part of ongoing Trump-backed election fraud probes. DNI Tulsi Gabbard was on site and coordinated with Trump directly.
  • “Curiously, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard appeared at the site of the search and had a phone call with Trump after the raid concluded.” – Garrison Davis (36:33)
• Special Agent in charge resigned shortly before raid; rationale is “election integrity,” echoing Trump’s disproven claims.
• Audio from Trump’s notorious call pressuring Georgia to “find” votes is played.
  • “I just want to find 11,780 votes.” – Trump (37:05)

Politicians’ Election Claims & “Nationalizing” Elections (37:32–42:36)

• Mike Johnson, House Speaker, continues casting doubt on 2020/2026 electoral integrity despite lack of evidence.
  • “I find it comical...what we have to focus on is...to ensure that there are not questions about the elections.” – Mike Johnson (37:40)
  • Johnson admits he can’t prove fraud but insists it “looks on its face to be fraudulent.” (40:49)
• The hosts mock and debunk these claims, noting even Georgia’s Republican governor has refuted Trump’s allegations.
  • “Can I prove there's fraud? No. But will I continue to say there's fraud? Yes.” – James Stout, paraphrasing Johnson’s logic (42:34)

Case Update: Revoked Visa Over Op-Ed (43:07–48:49)

• New revelations about Ramesa Ozturk, a student deported for allegedly supporting terrorism, show the government had no evidence—her only “violation” was co-writing an op-ed.
  • “The only evidence held against her in the memo is that she wrote an op ed. You still can revoke her visa if you want to.” – Garrison Davis (46:51)
• The memo’s details highlight how student visas are subject to political whims; external rhetoric from officials like Rubio starkly contrasts with internal agency admissions.

Syria Update (48:52–51:43)

• A ceasefire/settlement in Rojava (AANES) and the Syrian Transitional Government means integration of Kurdish and other minority brigades into the Syrian Army and Ministry oversight, but represents a retrenchment of the revolution’s ideals.
  • “Glad that there is no more killing and no more dying, but also sad to see some of the things that so many people fought and died for being lost, especially this idea of brotherhood of peoples...” – James Stout (49:00)
• Aid for Kobani and humanitarian support is still urgently needed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This job sucks... sometimes I wish you would just hold me in contempt, your honor, so that I could have a full 24 hours of sleep.” – Federal prosecutor (30:52)
• “Both of the men are from South Texas... He had become a gun enthusiast with about 25 rifles, pistols and shotguns. In so much as that matters...” – James Stout on ICE agents (28:25)
• “The fact that we have the government saying that in these internal documents, while externally, people like... Rubio say otherwise is such a naked display of the sort of rhetoric that these people are using.” – Garrison Davis (47:02)
• “You cannot place a vote in California after election Day... He's purposely misconstruing it to make it sound way more nefarious than what it actually is.” – Garrison Davis (41:37)
• “Glad that there is no more killing and no more dying, but also sad to see some of the things that so many people fought and died for being lost, especially this idea of brotherhood of peoples...” – James Stout (49:00)

Important Timestamps

• Super Bowl/Turning Point Halftime Show Satire: 01:24–04:52
• Portland Union/ICE Protest & Tear Gas: 05:27–10:41
• Health Effects of Tear Gas (Women’s Reproductive): 10:41–12:33
• Minneapolis ICE Surge/Journalist Arrests: 18:20–22:44
• DHS/Congress Body Cam Funding Debate: 22:53–29:43
• Prosecutor Burnout/Humor: 29:43–33:21
• FBI Georgia Ballot Raid/Tulsi Gabbard’s Involvement: 34:02–39:34
• Mike Johnson’s Election Claims/Fact-Check: 37:32–42:36
• Ozturk Visa Revocation Case: 43:07–48:49
• Syria Update/Rojava Losses: 48:52–51:43

Tone & Takeaways

The hosts blend gallows humor and personal insight, sustaining a skeptical, activist perspective on American institutions. They emphasize the spiraling loss of civil liberties, the chasm between government narrative and individual experience, bureaucratic absurdities, and reasons for both outrage and dark laughter. Their coverage is dense, but the banter and asides keep the news engaging—even, or especially, when it's grim.

For further reading:

• Robert Evans’ newsletter (on US drone strikes in Nigeria)
• Upcoming Behind the Bastards episodes on new Epstein files and Greg Bevino
• Haversour (aid support for Rojava)

Feedback and tips: Reach the team at coolzonetips[at]proton.me