Real America’s Voice: CPAC 2026 LIVE COVERAGE — 12PM Hour, March 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this action-packed CPAC 2026 live coverage from Grapevine, Texas, the Real America’s Voice (RAV) team delivers first-hand reflections from the convention floor. The hour is dominated by robust discussions on unity within the conservative movement, the state of the Republican Party, and, most notably, a headline interview and speech with former ICE Director Tom Homan. The team dissects current policy debates, border security, U.S. and global political dynamics, and issues of freedom and cultural influence, all while providing the expected high-energy RAV rapport.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Opening Reflections and Themes at CPAC 2026

Timestamps: 02:48–06:26

• The RAV panel—Terrence Bates, Ben Berkwam, David Zier, and Bo Davidson—share takeaways from CPAC:
  • “It's all about MAGA, it's all about President Trump. ... It's just fun, you come to these events, it's a family reunion.” — David Zier [03:16]
• Notable that Trump is influencing the conversation even while present at other high-level meetings.
• “What unites us is bigger than what divides us.” — Bo Davidson [05:05]
• There’s emphasis on focusing on “the mission” and not “division and distraction.” — David Zier [05:33]

2. Unity and Policy Differences Among Conservatives

Timestamps: 06:26–08:16

• Panelists urge focus on shared goals of “making America great again,” despite nuanced policy disagreements.
• The presence of diverse voices is highlighted, referencing recent gatherings like Turning Point America Fest.

3. Border Security, Immigration, and Trump Administration Achievements

Timestamps: 12:59–46:47 (Tom Homan segment)

Tom Homan’s Speech and Interview Highlights

• ICE Morale and Operations:
  • “Morale is still high because they work for a great president, greatest president of my lifetime.” — Tom Homan [15:32]
  • ICE agents are facing increased threats (up “8,000%”), leading to families being doxed and threatened.
  • “Men and women of ICE and Border Patrol make a hell of a sacrifice. But so do their families.” — Tom Homan [18:10]
• Border Security/Deportations Under Trump:
  • Claims of the “most secure border in U.S. history” [18:52], with dramatic shifts in apprehension and deportation statistics since Biden years:
    • “Over 10.5 million illegal aliens came to the border that we know of [during Biden]. … Now 12,000 to 121.” — Tom Homan [19:37–20:25]
    • “Since he’s been in the Oval Office, we're about 827,000 deportations. That beats any record under Obama.” — Tom Homan [22:10]
    • “We just hired 10,000 more deportation officers... just wait till this year.” [22:29]
    • “One of the reasons we have the most secure border … is because people are seeing what ICE is doing across the country and are saying, ‘Hell no, I don’t want to give my life savings to the criminal cartel.’” [23:45]
• Self-Deportation and Enforcement Message:
  • “We’re over 2 million self-removals. … If you’re in this country illegally, we’re going to find you, we’re going to deport you.” [23:45]
• Crime & Sanctuary Policy:
  • Homan stresses the “significant impact” ICE deportations have in reducing city crime rates:
    • “We average between 60% and 70% of those we arrest are criminals. ... That’s over half a million public safety threats kicked out of this country.” [27:31]
• Human Trafficking and Missing Children:
  • “They found right around 145,000 missing children. ... Many, too many, were victims of sex trafficking, being sold for sex, and being in forced labor. President Trump’s leadership literally saved thousands of young children’s lives.” — Tom Homan [30:20–30:38]
  • Points out flaws from previous (Biden) administration—“they weren’t vetted properly. … the addresses were never verified.” [30:20]
• Cartels and China:
  • “President Trump’s going to wipe these drug cartels off the face of the earth. ... The cartels are focusing on Asia and Europe right now because they know it's hard here.” [33:23/33:54]
• DHS Shutdown and Political Challenges:
  • Argues Democrats are working to “cripple ICE,” not just reform it, through funding battles: “Because they hate ICE so much, they're willing to punish the men and women. ... You want to talk about inhumane? What’s more inhumane than that?” [36:00]
• Minnesota/Minneapolis Operations:
  • Discussed the ICE intervention in Minnesota, working to de-escalate and cooperate with local officials, leading to “less of a sanctuary state.” Describes negotiation with state/local leadership as critical to public safety. [40:13–42:46]
• Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullins:
  • Praise for new Secretary: “Right guy, right time, right job.... He’s digging in deep. ... Doing it for the right reasons.” [43:00]
• Personal Motivation and Sacrifice:
  • “I pray every night ... for the safety of every man and woman in ICE and Border Patrol, that they go home to their families. And I pray for the greatest president in my lifetime.” — Tom Homan [44:51]
  • “We're not going to apologize for [enforcing the law]. For the Democrats who want to keep beating up on ICE, want to shut down DHS, you’re not going to stop us.” [45:25]

Notable Quotes

• “If you choose to run over an ICE agent, you’re going to get shot, and you deserve to get shot.” — David Zier [47:38]
• “Let them do their job, and if you don’t like the job they’re doing, have Congress change it.” — David Zier [48:28]

4. International Focus: UK Politics and Radical Islam

Timestamps: 54:50–61:45

• UK journalist Andrew Doyle joins the panel to discuss Britain’s political leadership and security posture:
  • Keir Starmer criticized as “pathetic, weak, inept... the Chamberlain of our day.” — David Zier [55:28]
  • “Trump says Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill, and that’s got to be the understatement of the millennium.... That’s an embarrassment on the world stage.” — Andrew Doyle [55:39]
  • Discussion over UK hesitation to support US military action, Starmer's approach to radical Islam, and the introduction of “Islamophobia” definitions to appease Muslim voters:
    • “He is desperate to appease certain segments of his voting base. … His government has recently attempted to introduce a new definition of Islamophobia...” — Andrew Doyle [57:48]
  • On illegal immigration in the UK: “I feel like England is gone. ... Can England be saved?” — David Zier [60:11]
  • “It’s not as simple as saying the left is to blame. … Nobody has stood up and said we need to do something about it.” — Andrew Doyle [61:06]

5. Looking Ahead: Embedded Reporting and Community Cooperation

Timestamps: 49:04–51:07

• Ben Pergwom previews an upcoming investigative mission in Florida, to compare how ICE works in cooperative versus adversarial state environments.
• “If you actually let ICE do their job, you coordinate with law enforcement, everybody is safer.... It’s better for America, it’s better for everyone.” — Ben Pergwom [49:10]

6. Closing Thoughts and Panel Reactions

Timestamps: 46:47-end

• Panelists praise Tom Homan as steadfast and unafraid.
• "He's an incredible American patriot. He's hard on the outside, but you hear it every time he speaks, he's compassionate on the inside. He cares deeply about the people of America..." — David Zier [46:59]
• “We have totally lost [limited government] ... The very people that are supposed to be securing our freedom and liberty ... they're actually obstructing and putting American citizens in danger.” — David Zier [50:16]
• Brief lighthearted moments: celebratory shoutout and birthday wishes for staffer Brandon Jarvis [51:19], and music/entertainment hour previews.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On unity:
  “What unites us is bigger than what divides us.” — Bo Davidson [05:05]
• On ICE morale:
  "Morale is still high because they work for a great president, greatest president of my lifetime." — Tom Homan [15:32]
• On the scope of self-deportation:
  “Over 2 million self-removals... if you're in this country illegally, we're looking for you, we're going to find you, we're going to deport you.” — Tom Homan [23:45]
• On the child trafficking crisis:
  “They found right around 145,000 missing children…. President Trump’s leadership literally saved thousands of young children’s lives. And we’re not done.” — Tom Homan [30:36]
• On new DHS Secretary:
  “Right guy, right time, right job. ... He talks every day, several times a day. ... He left the Senator job, which is a pretty sweet job, to take on the hardest job in the United States government.” — Tom Homan [43:00]
• On personal mission:
  “I pray every night ... that they go home to their families. And I pray for the greatest president in my lifetime.” — Tom Homan [44:51]
• International comparison:
  “Keir Starmer is the Chamberlain of our day. ... Peace in our time. It's pathetic.” — David Zier [55:28] “Trump says Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill—that’s the understatement of the millennium.” — Andrew Doyle [55:39]
• On the current political struggle:
  “If you don't like it, change the damn law because you ruined it. ... The saddest thing I've ever done is hand the folded flag to a child or a spouse or a fallen Border Patrol [agent]. ... Please pray with me that every man and woman at ICE ... go home to their families every day.” — Tom Homan [45:25/46:21]

Important Segments (with Timestamps)

• Opening takeaways from CPAC: [02:48–06:26]
• Call for conservative unity: [05:05–06:26]
• Tom Homan’s full interview (borders, ICE, child trafficking): [12:59–46:47]
• ICE enforcement and policy debates: [22:10–24:40]
• Discussion on UK, Starmer, and international affairs: [54:50–61:45]
• Panel reflections and preview of upcoming embedded reporting: [46:47–51:07]

Flow and Tone

The episode conveys a palpable sense of camaraderie and shared mission, pairing lighthearted banter with urgent, at times dire, policy discussions. The tone is unapologetically pro-Trump, with emphatic endorsements of law enforcement and critiques of both Democratic politicians and non-cooperative Republican or allied governments abroad. The RAV team and guests maintain energetic delivery, blending policy with cultural and entertainment commentary, and frequently address the audience directly.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode offers an unfiltered window into the heart of the current conservative movement as seen through Real America’s Voice’s lens. It combines unique insight into operational realities for federal agents on the border, reflections on the necessity of unity on the right, and frank, often hard-hitting opinions on political leadership and policy both in the U.S. and abroad. Tom Homan’s unvarnished commentary on security and immigration carries the segment, while international perspectives and cultural festivities round out the hour.