Podcast Summary: Next Up with Mark Halperin

Episode: How China is Weaponizing America's Immigration System, with Peter Schweizer, PLUS Why Ossoff Has Democrats Buzzing
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Mark Halperin
Guest: Peter Schweizer (author, "The Invisible Coup")

Episode Overview

This episode is divided into two central themes:

1. Democratic Messaging & Jon Ossoff’s Speech: Halperin’s “reported monologue” explores why a recent speech by Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has energized Democrats and worried Republicans, highlighting its implications for the party's strategy in 2026 and beyond.
2. Weaponized Immigration – Interview with Peter Schweizer: Investigative journalist Peter Schweizer joins to discuss findings from his bestselling book, "The Invisible Coup," focusing on how China (and to a lesser degree, Mexico) are exploiting America’s immigration system for strategic purposes.

Democratic Messaging: The Ossoff Template

The Democrats' Messaging Dilemma (08:55–12:55)

• Halperin unpacks the repeating cycle of political parties critiquing each other’s ‘messaging’ versus policies.
• Trump’s Influence: He diverts Democrats from winning issues (like the economy) and baits them into culture war distractions.
• Key Challenge: Democrats want to address economic concerns (where Trump is weak) but often get sidetracked by outrage at Trump’s actions.

Jon Ossoff’s Speech: A Game-Changer (12:55–21:00)

Halperin describes Ossoff’s Atlanta speech as uniquely effective, sparking optimism among Democrats and concern among Republicans. The speech’s strengths:

• Direct, vivid criticism of Trump

  • Notably, Ossoff called Trump’s social media conduct reminiscent of a "Klansman."
    • Quote:

      "You’re seeing what I’m seeing, right? The president posting about the Obamas like a Klansman at 1am."
      — Jon Ossoff ([13:10])

• Framing Trump as part of a corrupt elite

  • Ossoff asserts Trump’s government serves “the Epstein class.”
    • Quote:

      "But this is a government of, by and for the ultra-rich. It is the wealthiest cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class ruling our country."
      — Jon Ossoff ([14:14])

• Acknowledging systemic political failures

  • Ossoff connects Trump to deeper issues of entrenched corruption and inequality, challenging the Republican claim as the “working class party.”
    • Quote:

      "Donald Trump is a symptom of a deeper disease—decades of deepening political corruption, growing inequality of power and wealth. These are the failures of an ancient and visionless political class entrenched in a system built to keep them in office forever."
      — Jon Ossoff ([15:34])

• Injecting optimism

  • Despite sharp attacks, Ossoff encourages faith in voter power and future change.
    • Quote:

      "There’s a wave building. And come November, the people who have been looting this country and desecrating our values are going to feel it... The power of the presidency is nothing compared to the power of the American people."
      — Jon Ossoff ([17:36] & [18:16])

• True grassroots organizing

  • Ossoff demonstrates organizer’s credibility by mobilizing supporters live:
    • Quote:

      "I want you to take out your phones...text JOIN to 51015...say vote, say vote now."
      — Jon Ossoff ([19:38])

Halperin’s Conclusion:

• Both parties see Ossoff’s speech as a “template.”
• It fuses anti-Trump passion, derision toward perceived corruption, economic focus, optimism, and tactical organizing.

Key Analysis ([21:00–24:30]):

• Democrats are likely to use phrases like “Epstein class” and pivot from process criticisms to economic populism.
• The GOP’s concern: If Democrats widely adopt Ossoff’s formula, it could be very effective in the midterms.

Peter Schweizer Interview: Weaponized Immigration

Book Premise and Focus (27:04–28:52)

• Schweizer’s book, "The Invisible Coup," investigates foreign adversaries’ purposeful manipulation of U.S. immigration, especially China’s industrial-scale tactics.
• Distinguishes “weaponized” immigration from ordinary migration.

China’s Birthright Citizenship Strategy (Birth Tourism) (28:52–35:07)

• Core Concern:

  • China is facilitating and encouraging elite families to send pregnant women to the U.S. to give birth, securing American citizenship for their children (who then return and are raised in China).

• Scale:

  • Chinese government/opinion research firms estimate 100,000+ such births per year for the past 13 years—over one million U.S.-citizen children now raised in China.

• Implications:

  • These individuals become eligible to vote, donate to campaigns, and access sensitive jobs when they turn 18—without meaningful connection to America.
  • U.S. government doesn’t track parental nationality in birth certificates, so has zero oversight.

• Notable Example:

  • The industry caters to high-ranking CCP elites, including military/intelligence officials, ex-foreign ministers.

• Quote:

  "We literally have a million American citizens, according to Chinese numbers, living in China right now that are going to be able to vote and engage in all kinds of other behaviors, and they literally have no connection to our country whatsoever..."
  — Peter Schweizer ([31:38])

• Further concern:

  • Surrogacy angle: Elite Chinese fathers pay U.S. women to have children who gain U.S. citizenship and then are sent to China.
  • One billionaire reportedly has over 100 children born this way ([35:07]).

Surveillance Gaps and Policy Recklessness ([36:50–41:00])

• U.S. policy is labeled “foolish” by both host and guest, creating an “asymmetrical advantage”—China can move these citizens freely, while Americans have no similar ability in China.
• Even if the numbers are somewhat exaggerated, tens to hundreds of thousands of “Manchurian babies” are significant and unmonitored potential assets for China.

Training Chinese Pilots in the United States ([41:00–44:21])

• Practice:

  • U.S. flight schools, motivated by profit, are training thousands of Chinese nationals in basic flight.
  • China says it needs 5,000 new pilots per year but can train only 1,250 at home—so outsources to the U.S.
  • The most talented are recruited into the Chinese military (PLA Air Force).

• Context:

  • Post-9/11, U.S. cracks down on flight school access for terror-linked countries, but China wasn’t included in such restrictions.
  • Estimated 2,500 Chinese pilots trained in U.S. in 2025.

• Process:

  • Students arrive on regular student visas; tuition is paid by the Chinese government ($90,000/year).

• Quote:

  "We are teaching them to walk so they can run and get the advanced military training. And for the life of me, I can’t understand a good reason to be doing this at all."
  — Peter Schweizer ([43:38])

Research Methods (44:53–45:08)

• Schweizer’s team employs Mandarin-fluent researchers; all sources are public documents.

Mexico’s “Weaponized” Immigration Approach

Mexican Consulates and Representation (54:42–61:00)

• Scale:

  • Mexico operates 53 consulates in the U.S.—far more than any other nation (UK has 6, China 7), including 4 in Arizona alone.

• Political Engagement:

  • Mexico has established a network of senators/representatives who live in the U.S. (some are undocumented, citizens, or on permanent residency) and serve Mexican citizens on U.S. soil.
  • These officials use social media, government-funded media (Migrant TV), and events to organize and politically mobilize the Mexican diaspora, often with a clear anti-Trump perspective and activism against U.S. immigration enforcement.

• Quote:

  "Mexico has created ... a network of elected officials that serve in the Mexican Senate, serve in their Chamber of Deputies ... that live full time in the United States. And their job as congressmen and senators is to represent Mexicans living within the United States. That in and of itself, to me, is a massive infringement upon our sovereignty."
  — Peter Schweizer ([55:48])

• Media Influence:

  • Example: Migrante TV, launched in 2024–2025, streams content to U.S.-based Mexicans, pushes identity pride, strongly anti-assimilation, and politically charged messaging.

Mexican Govt Response & Author’s Rebuttal (63:02–64:56)

• Mexican diplomats publicly dispute Schweizer’s claims, denying political interference and illegal organizing.
• Schweizer counters with public documentation and direct quotes from Mexican officials, as well as transcripts of meetings involving U.S. Democrat activists and Mexican diplomatic personnel planning political engagement.

Writing and Publishing Insights

The Bestseller Game (47:52–53:50)

• Schweizer has written five consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers, attributing success to original research and surfacing information unavailable elsewhere.
• Halperin and Schweizer discuss the “mystique” of the NYT bestseller list, its opaque mechanics, the industry’s obsession, and common attempts to game the system.
• Schweizer’s books achieve their rankings via genuine readership, with no “bulk purchase” manipulation.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Ossoff as Messenger:
  "What they want now is they want someone who will take it to Trump, who will be optimistic, who will fuse the notion of holding Trump accountable ... and will organize to try to win these elections." — Mark Halperin ([20:02])

• On U.S. Security Vulnerabilities:
  "Even if Peter’s thesis is partially true, let's say there’s not a million. Let's say there’s a hundred thousand. If there’s a hundred thousand Manchurian babies ... that's massive. And it’s a hundred thousand more than we have, because the Chinese aren't letting us create a bunch of dual citizenship babies ..." — Mark Halperin ([37:32])

• On Immigration’s Changing Nature:
  "Immigration before generally was people voting with their feet, right? People wanted to come to the United States. ... Today we live in an era where it’s more complicated. Complicated. You have state governments and actors that are seeing it as a tool of subversion." — Peter Schweizer ([39:05])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Democratic Messaging and Ossoff Breakdown:
  • The problem with Democratic messaging: [08:55–12:55]
  • Ossoff’s speech excerpts and analysis: [12:55–21:00]
  • Conclusions and party strategy: [21:00–24:30]
• Schweizer Interview – China Focus:
  • Book premise and history: [27:04–28:52]
  • Birthright citizenship/birth tourism: [28:52–35:07]
  • Surrogacy and further exploitation: [35:07–38:32]
  • U.S. vulnerabilities and quantification: [38:32–41:00]
  • Chinese pilot training: [41:00–44:21]
• Book Business Insights: [47:52–53:50]
• Mexico’s Tactics and Controversies:
  • Consulates and political representation: [54:42–61:00]
  • Media & government activism: [61:00–63:00]
  • Diplomatic pushback: [63:02–64:56]
• Personal Story & Book Pitch: [65:08–67:32]

The Episode’s Takeaways

• For Democrats:
  Ossoff’s approach spotlights a narrative/strategy—linking populist, anti-corruption messaging with future-focused optimism and organizing muscle—that could reorient the party’s 2026 and 2028 campaigns.

• On Immigration:
  Schweizer challenges conventional, domestic-only immigration debates, highlighting international actors’ (China/Mexico) calculated use of America’s own laws/loopholes to gain advantage—posing questions of sovereignty, security, and future-proof policymaking.

• On Policy and Politics:
  The episode is urgent, skeptical about established practices, but encourages listeners to watch Ossoff’s speech and to consider new dimensions to the immigration debate brought forth in "The Invisible Coup."

For further details and direct quotes, listeners are encouraged to find Ossoff’s speech online and review Schweizer’s sources as cited in his book.