Loading summary
Isaac Saul
Listen up. You can get the new iPhone 16e with Apple Intelligence for just $49.99 when you switch to Boost Mobile. We pulled so many all nighters to.
Will K. Back
Give you this deal.
Isaac Saul
And hey, stop messing with a mic. I'm just helping this catch people's attention. This is a great deal. Exactly. So it doesn't need all that. Fine. Get the new iPhone 16e available at Apple Store locations and the Apple Store online. Visit your nearest Boost Mobile store for full offer details. Apple Intelligence requires iOS 18.1 or later. Restrictions apply.
Will K. Back
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
John Lowell
When it comes to delivering flowers for life's special occasions, trust the name that's been setting the standard for nearly 50 years. 1-800-flowers.com from breathtaking bouquets to one of a kind arrangements, 1-800-flowers is your authority on quality blooms. Always fresh, always stunning, always delivered with care. And right now, for a limited time, you can save up to 40% off your bouquet and make someone's day. Save up to 40% off today at 1800-flowers.com acast. That's 1-800-flowers.com acast from executive producer Isaac Saul.
Will K. Back
This is Tangle. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening and welcome to the Tangle podcast, a place we get views from across the political spectrum, some independent thinking, and a little bit of my take. I'm your host, Isaac Saul, and on today's episode, we're going to be covering the Southern California immigration raids that have been causing quite a bit of controversy, including two raids that happened on a couple cannabis farms last week. We're going to break down exactly what happened, some arguments from the left and the right, and of course, my take before we jump in though, two quick things. First of all, we have a correction today, unfortunately in the numbers section of Wednesday's podcast. Last week on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, we wrote that Epstein had died in August 2018. In reality, he died in August 2019. Somebody was making some edits to that sentence structure late in the game and we inadvertently changed the year and we actually just missed the error before publishing. So it's been corrected in our online article edition. But I definitely, I think, I guess John or will read it wrong for sure on the podcast because it was incorrect for a couple hours after publication so we apologize. This is our 139th correction in Tangle's 309 week history and our first correction since June 26th. We track them and place them at the top of the newsletter and podcast in an effort to maximize our transparency with readers. Relatedly speaking of getting stuff wrong, on Friday I published a piece in the newsletter and on the podcast about five things I had gotten wrong related to President Donald Trump in his first six months in office. It was a paywalled piece, so you have to be a member to hear the full thing on the podcast and in the newsletter. But you should do that because memberships help support our work and keep the lights on here and help us grow our team and produce more awesome content. So if you go back to our podcast feed, you can listen to a free preview of that if you're not yet a member, or if you are, you'll have the full version in your feed already. And if you want to become a member, you can do that by going to readtangle.com membership. I highly recommend that you do that when you get a chance. All right, I'm going to send it over to Will today, who is tackling our main story, and I'll be back for my take.
Isaac Saul
Thanks, Isaac. This is Senior Editor Will K. Back. I'm filling in for John this week. Reading his parts let's jump in with today's quick hits. The State Department moved to lay off over 1,300 employees as part of a plan to eliminate duplicative agencies and streamline departmental operations. Separately, Attorney General Pam Bondi fired at least 20 prosecutors and support staffers linked to former special counsel Jack Smith's investigations into President Donald Trump. Number two Former President Joe Biden refuted claims by President Trump and other Republicans that he did not authorize the pardons and commutations signed with an auto pen at the end of his term. The comments follow investigations launched by the Justice Department and Congress into Biden's mental state at the time the clemency actions were issued. Number three Two people were killed and two others injured in a shooting at a church in Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday. The suspect also shot a state trooper and was killed by law enforcement responding to the shooting. Number four Emergency service officials in Gaza said an Israeli airstrike killed 10 people and injured 16 others waiting to fill water containers. Israel said it was targeting a terrorist but missed due to a technical error. Number five President Trump announced a new 30% tariff on imported goods and services from Mexico and the European Union starting Aug. 1.
Will K. Back
Officials in California today pushing back some after the raid lasted well into the night. Governor Gavin Newsom writing on X that kids are running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother wasn't, was just taken from the fields. Trump calls me Newscom. He's the real scum. Newsom then sharing footage from the raid. Department of Homeland Security says it was executing a warrant at the farm. But right now just coming in, we have new developments on this story. The United Farm Workers union confirming in a statement saying a farm worker has.
Isaac Saul
Died of injuries they sustained as a.
Will K. Back
Result of yesterday immigration enforcement action. We are gathering more information.
Isaac Saul
On Thursday, federal immigration authorities said they arrested 319 people suspected of being in the country illegally in raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE and Customs and Border Protection at two licensed cannabis farms in California. Law enforcement Officers also found 10 children in the country illegally during the raids and arrested four United States citizens for allegedly assaulting or resisting officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Separately, a farm worker reportedly died after falling off the roof of a greenhouse at one of the farms. The immigration sweeps are believed to be the second largest single state ICE worksite operation in history. Protesters clashed with federal agents during the raids, attempting to block ICE vehicles while agents deployed tear gas and crowd control munitions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation for Los Angeles is also offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of a suspect who appeared to fire a handgun at law enforcement during the prot. Furthermore, eight people were injured during the protests at one farm and transported to local hospitals, according to a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department. President Donald Trump sharply criticized the protesters on Truth Social, writing that he had directed White House officials to, quote, instruct all ice, Homeland Security or any other law enforcement officer who is on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks or any other form of assault to stop their car and arrest these slime balls using whatever means is necessary to do so. I am giving total authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the public, end quote. The United Farm Workers union criticized the raids in a statement on X, writing, quote, many workers, including US Citizens, were held by federal authorities at the farm for eight hours or more. The statement continued, quote, these violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families. There is no city, state or federal district where it is legal to terrorize and detain people for being brown and working in agriculture, end quote. Separately, on Friday, a federal judge ruled in favor of challengers suing the Trump administration for ICE's operational tactics in the Los Angeles area. The judge banned ICE from detaining suspects based on their appearance, spoken language or apparent occupation, finding that taking such actions without reasonable suspicion violated the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The case was brought by five plaintiffs who claimed they were stopped because of their ethnicity, accents and occupations during three separate raids in Los Angeles since June 6. Trisha McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, criticized the ruling, saying that the judge was undermining the will of the American people. Today we'll break down the arguments on ICE's deportation efforts in Southern California with views from the left, right and Reuters in California. Then Isaac gives his take.
Will K. Back
Foreign we'll be right back after this quick break. As many of you can probably tell, our world is changing. AI is coming for our job. We have new tariffs announced every day. Geopolitical changes are killing historical alliances. The market's bouncing up and down like a yo yo. Many of us are hunkering down, trying to squirrel away some money and protect our futures. But one of the ways you may have forgotten to do that is through a life insurance policy. You've heard of life insurance, I'm sure, but did you know it's cheaper than you think? And the younger you are, the cheaper it is. Like double the price if you wait to buy a decade from now. So I'm looking for my life insurance Policy Today with selectquote.com selectquote takes the guesswork out of finding the right life insurance policy for you. You'll be covered faster than you think as they work with providers who offer same day coverage. And you're not out of luck if you have pre existing health conditions because SelectQuote partners with companies that offer policies for people with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today and you can get the right life insurance for you right now for less and save more than 50%@SelectQuote.com tangle save more than 50% on term life insurance@SelectQuote.com tangle today to get started. That's SelectQuote.com tangle breaking up is never easy, but saying goodbye to your old clunky work tools, well, that's easy. Just repeat after me. It's not me, it's definitely you, you rigid, unfriendly software. It's time to freshen things up with Monday.com the first work platform you'll love to use with stunning dashboards, customizable templates, and built in AI that actually works. Switching to a new work platform has never felt this good, so move on to Monday.com foreign.
Isaac Saul
Here'S what the left is saying. The left is critical of the raids, and many suggest they will be politically damaging to Trump. Some say the administration is justifying the raids on false pretenses. In the Hill, Max Burns said Trump's immigration raids have gone too far. Trump's draconian immigration crackdowns may play well with his MAGA base, but they're still alienating nearly everyone else, including the mainstream conservatives Republicans will depend on to protect their fragile congressional majorities next year, burns wrote. A growing number of people, including Republican voters, are noticing that while Trump's immigration raids have swelled in size, aggression and taxpayer cost, they haven't generated many actual deportations. Meanwhile, they recoil at the regular drumbeat of news stories showcasing masked ICE agents urinating in school parking lots or illegally detaining US Citizens. Prior to May, many Americans viewed ICE positively. Now the agency evokes images of masked men huddled around blacked out vans and alligator Alcatraz agents refusal to identify themselves and maga's celebration of their unaccountability has led millions of Americans to see the agency as little more than Trump's personal skull crushers. Burns said. ICE is now the best funded law enforcement agency in the nation, boasting a budget on par with the entire Canadian military. Millions of Americans have watched ICE grow into an unaccountable entity that sees no problem deploying military grade hardware to raid a children's summer camp. And people are coming to the conclusion that the ends do not justify such brutal means. In USA Today, Larry Strauss wrote, ICE has terrorized many into an ominous silence. Apparently, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump, California is burning. Here in Los Angeles, however, we know too well the smell of a serious conflagration and also the stench of political gas when politicians try to justify corrupt assertions of authoritarian power, strauss said. We are protesting now not because we are lawless, but because what is happening is a racially selective application of immigration laws that should have been reformed years ago. We are protesting because we still believe in decency, human dignity and respect for hard work and family. California is not burning. Louisiana is not burning. Some cars and other objects have been set ablaze by a few individuals who are willing to go to jail for their outrage, nihilism, pyromania or whatever. Their conduct doesn't represent me or most of the rest of us, strauss wrote. They certainly do not represent my students. Now, living with terror and dread watching masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in armored vehicles occupying the parking lots of their supermarkets, scrolling the rumors that stream across social media about the next ICE raid at another Home Depot depot or factory or school graduation. All right, here's what the right is Many on the right criticize Democrats for downplaying the violent protesters and the discovery of children at the cannabis farms. Others call for stricter employment verification standards at farms, the Washington examiner editorial board said Democrats defend child labor at California marijuana Farms Waving and wearing Mexican flags, Democratic Party activists threw rocks and water bottles at federal agents as they executed a warrant to find illegal immigrants working at a marijuana farm 90 miles north of Los Angeles. Last week, when the tear gas had cleared, Immigration and Customs enforcement announced that 10 children had been found working there, eight of them unaccompanied by an adult, the board wrote. Despite this, Democratic leaders were unrepentant for opposing the enforcement of federal immigration law. Cannabis farm Glass House Farms is growing so fast it doesn't have time to pay its workers. At least that was what a class action lawsuit alleged last year. It is easy not to pay workers when they are in the country illegally and even easier when they are children. California governor Gavin Newsom and the Democratic Party are fine with all of this, the board said. Local television helicopters captured one activist firing what appears to be a pistol at federal law officers. The U.S. attorney for the Central District of California has offered a $50,000 reward for any information that leads to the conviction of the man with the gun. No elected Democrat has come forward to criticize the attempted murder of federal officials. In National Review, Carolyn Downey argued ICE's California Weed Farm raid shows why we need mandatory E Verify. The episode is yet more evidence that the so called humanitarians of this story, Democrats and progressives opposing the I's deportations are causing harm to the populations they're claiming to support. More importantly, it shows that some agricultural companies are still supplying a major incentive for illegal immigration employing illegal labor, Downey said. Illegal farm workers make up approximately 50% of the farm labor workforce in the U.S. these employers complicity has been historically hard to combat, but nationally mandating E Verify could change the game, E Verify is not foolproof. Some of the documents that the program allows, such as a voter registration card, birth certificate and a driver's license, can be easily counterfeited or borrowed, downey wrote. Still, E Verify remains one of the best tools at the administration's disposal. Businesses should be required to use this system, which stands the best chance of shutting down the market for illegal labor and therefore stemming the flood of illegal aliens to our border, hopefully for decades to come. And finally, here's what writers in California are saying. Some California writers argue the federal government's immigration raids amount to political theater. Others say the raids underscore the unsustainability of an economy built on unauthorized immigrants. In calmatters, Jim Newton said the federal government is staging political theater in Los Angeles. It was a month ago that President Donald Trump unilaterally decided that the city needed National Guard troops to contain anger over his Department of Homeland Security's efforts to forcibly remove undocumented immigrants from the city, newton wrote. Since that moment, practically everything about the protests or the federal response to them has lacked a connection to reality. It has largely been a series of orchestrated appearances, drive by observations and theatrical pronouncements, relatively few in a city of 4 million people even notice. Roughly 1,850 National Guardsmen remained deployed in Los Angeles more than a month after first arriving on a scene that was already under control. No one has died and yet the soldiers are still here, newton said. But while guardsmen wait for permission to go home, the administration ratchets up its postured flexing. On Monday, Homeland Security officers dressed up as soldiers and rode on horseback, stomping around MacArthur Park. The scene was more amusing than threatening. Onlookers whipped out cell phone cameras to document the sight of the horses traversing the grounds. In the Los Angeles Times, Joel Kotkin wrote, ICE raids are cruel, but so is an economy built on undocumented labor. Even as Californians protest the crude and awful brutal deportation tactics employed by President Trump's ICE and Homeland Security agents, we're giving too little thought to how our state and the nation is failing the very immigrant community we want to protect, kotkin said. The simple truth is that the low wage, high welfare economy dependent on illegal immigration isn't sustainable. Economic reality suggests we need a common sense policy to restrict new migration and to focus on policies that can allow current immigrants, especially those deeply embedded in our and those with useful skills, to enjoy the success of previous generations. What would a common sense policy look like? It would secure the border, which the Trump administration is already doing, and shift immigration priorities away from family reunion and more toward attracting those who can contribute to an increasingly complex economy. Deportation should prioritize convicted criminals and members of criminal gangs, kotkin wrote. Law abiding immigrants who are here without authorization should be offered a ticket home or a chance to register for legal status based on a clean record, paying taxes and steady employment. In addition, we need to consider a new bracero program which allowed guest workers to come to the US legally without their families in the mid 20th century.
Will K. Back
All right, that is it for the left and the right are saying. Which brings us to my take. So, as usual, the right and the left here are very much talking past each other, but on two distinct immigration stories that I think are worth fleshing out on their own. The first one is the story of two cannabis farm raids in Southern California, including Glass House Farms, one of the largest distributors in the world. The second is the Trump administration's general immigration enforcement approach, particularly in Southern California. I'm going to start with the cannabis farms. To put it simply, these are the kinds of raids that I would expect from the federal government. Employing hundreds of allegedly illegal workers at one cannabis farm is effectively an invitation for law enforcement action, especially when some of them are under the age of 18. Child labor probably evokes too exploitative an image to me. CBP said all the miners detained were at least 14, which is the same age I started working. But California prohibits miners from working on cannabis farms. A few things about this story are ironic. First, Republicans are decrying violations to California's labor laws for minors, despite generally opposing laws that limit miners ability to work. Second, the owner of Glass House is a former cop and Trump voter who has gardened a reputation for doing things by the book. That a place like Glass House is employing so many unauthorized migrants underscores some structural issues in agricultural employment. And claims from Glass House that its operation was on the up and up. Don't resolve any questions about how these kids got to this farm and were employed without papers. Child trafficking is a genuine problem along the border, and we have no way of knowing whether some of the kids were forced to be there. Meanwhile, the response to the raids provoked exactly the kind of conflict I'd been worried about under Trump's immigration approach. News spreads about a major enforcement action. Protesters arrived to resist, and tensions quickly escalate. Protesters throwing rocks doesn't adequately describe the situation. Videos show that it was actually quite dangerous for the immigration officials who resorted to using tear gas to disperse crowds. One protester appears to have fired a handgun towards officers. The whole thing is a mess. And of course, these direct and violent confrontations only reinforce Trump and the right's belief that immigration officials must be heavily armed during these raids. The second story, and perhaps the bigger one, is the Trump administration's general enforcement tactics in the region. ICE has significantly increased its daily arrests in recent weeks and is now holding roughly 54,000 unauthorized migrants in detention facilities. And they're just getting started. The agency is planning to ramp up enforcement and detention with their newly flushed budget to hit an aggressive deportation quota, which will lead the administration to stop focusing on bad hombres and instead start targeting anyone here illegally, including those performing jobs critical to industries like agriculture and hospitality. Now we're at the point where employers are having their limits tested, a conflict that President Trump is apparently struggling with himself. The public is being tested, too. I think whether Americans support this kind of enforcement will be determined by how these stories play out in the communities experiencing these deportations. But I know that we're no longer targeting drug traffickers, gang members, or Harding criminals. For now, it seems like the general public is souring on Trump's deportation agenda. If the administration's raids at these cannabis farms are on the justifiable end of what they've done to enforce immigration and labor laws, and I think they are, many of its actions leading up to the raids are on the other side of the spectrum. On Friday, I wrote about some of these more horrific actions, many of which have come in Southern California. Perhaps most memorably, the administration deployed National Guard troops and federal officers on foot, on horseback, and in military vehicles. And In Los Angeles's MacArthur park, troops were purportedly deployed to support a crackdown on a park notorious for criminal activity, especially the distribution of fake IDs and illicit drugs. But in reality, the operation was botched. The National Guard was supposed to be protecting federal immigration officials, but showed up late and then marched around aimlessly. Nothing may have gotten out of hand at MacArthur park, but it did show an administration gearing up for a fight. Trump appears to be intimidating local officials and communities into submission through the militarization of our immigration police, which I find to be a gross and un American expression of power. As journalist Ken Klippenstein put it. Many in the military who are on the ground in Los Angeles think that ICE and others from Homeland Security dressing up in army green and using armored vehicles on the streets of an American city undermines the reputation of the armed forces? And I agree. How will the military's reputation be affected if American citizens experience the armed forces as a police force in their own communities? Conversely, how will the police's reputation be affected when it's outfitted like the military? I always find these questions more helpful if we make them personal. If you were in a park with your kids when it was suddenly swarmed by heavily armed soldier looking police with Humvees and military trucks, how would you feel? Meanwhile, a federal judge ruled that the administration has been unconstitutionally targeting people for speaking Spanish or appearing to be Hispanic, then denying detainees the right to consult with a lawyer. These are basic American principles. The police aren't allowed to profile you and you have a right to representation. As I've said again and again, if you remove these basic rights for suspected noncitizens, you remove them for everyone. We have no way of knowing whether the people the government is targeting are US Citizens if their rights are violated in the process and and US Citizens are already getting caught up in the dragnet. I want to be very clear here, though. The US Is in a bad place with illegal immigration. Many millions of people are here illegally with no pathway to citizenship, regardless of whether you support deporting them en masse or not. The morally defensible and legally legitimate process of locating, detaining and deporting millions of people without violating their rights is extremely difficult, expensive and time consuming. This is all great justification for limiting illegal immigration in the first place, which we could do the Trump way. He has successfully brought illegal immigration to an all time low with aggressive border enforcement, or by opening up more pathways to legal work permits and citizenship, or with a combination of the two. But the current situation does require a response, and the Trump administration is well within its rights to raid cannabis farms where hundreds of people are potentially employed illegally, including children. Protesters resisting those raids are making immigration enforcement more dangerous. At the same time, the Trump administration is regularly violating the rights of American citizens and non citizens alike all across Southern California. Its intentional provocations are unsettling and justify resistance from the public and local officials. More than anything else, the perils of enforcing immigration through deportation should show responsible legislators why it's so important to limit illegal immigration before unauthorized migrants enter the country in the first place. We'll be right back after this quick break.
Howie Mandel
I can't tell you how often I hear, oh, I'm a little ocd. I like things neat. That's not ocd. I'm Howie Mandel and I know this because I have ocd. Actual OCD causes relentless unwanted thoughts. What if I did something terrible and forgot? What if I'm a bad person? Why am I thinking this terrible thing? It makes you question absolutely everything and you'll do anything to feel better. OCD is debilitating, but it's also highly treatable with the right kind of therapy. Regular talk therapy doesn't cut it. OCD needs specialized therapy. That's why I want to tell you about NO cd. NOCD is the world's largest virtual therapy. Therapy provider for ocd. Their licensed therapists provide specialized therapy virtually and it's covered by insurance for over 155 million Americans. If you think you might be struggling with OCD, visit nocd.com to schedule a free 15 minute call and learn more. That's n o c d.com we all belong outside.
John Lowell
We're drawn to nature. Whether it's the recorded sounds of the ocean we doze off to or the succulents that adorn our homes, nature makes all of our lives, well, better. Despite all this, we often go about our busy lives removed from it, but the outdoors is closer than we realize. With alltrails, you can discover trails nearby and explore confidently with offline maps and on trail navigation. Download the free app today.
Will K. Back
All right, that is it for my take. Which brings us to your questions answered. This one's from Claire in Chicago, Illinois Claire said, I'm curious why you didn't include a section on what trans writers are saying in your coverage of the Scrametti decision. I've been enjoying your expanded use of what ex writers are saying, and this is an issue where I'd like to hear more from those directly impacted okay, so first of all, up front, we should note that we did include two perspectives from transgender writers in our coverage of United States v. Scrametti, though we did not label them what transgender writers are saying. Under the Commentary for the Left, we included a piece from Aaron Reed, a journalist who writes a popular substack newsletter, and a piece from M. Gessen, a New York Times columnist. Why not put these pieces under their own banner? While we are increasingly looking for opportunities to use that kind of 2:2:2 format of what the left and right are saying and writers are saying. We also want to be careful to not effectively create a 4 to 2 ideological split where we sample writers from a specific group who just add two more liberal or conservative views to the mix. In this case, virtually all of the pieces we surveyed from the left and transgender writers specifically, were staunchly opposed to the ruling. So having two what the Left is saying articles and two what transgender writers are saying articles would have created an imbalance. We could have had one piece from, say, a trans writer and one piece from a parental rights advocate, but that range of perspectives on the case was naturally covered by our normal format. Conversely, both today's piece and our recent edition on the floods in Texas offered great examples of when the 2:2:2 format works well. The two pieces from Texas and California writers offered distinct perspectives through location specific insights. We didn't see from national commentators. So we agree that including commentary from groups with a direct stake in the issues we cover is important, and we'll continue to do so Both within our standard 3 left 3 right format and the 222 format when we think it's appropriate. All right, that is it for your questions answered. I'm going to send it back to Will for the rest of the pod and I'll see you guys tomorrow. Have a good one. Peace.
Isaac Saul
Thanks, Isaac. All right, let's move on to our under the Radar story for today. In recent months, early warning systems protecting global cybersecurity infrastructure have shown significant gaps in coverage. In February 2024, the National Vulnerability Database NVD, which tracks known security vulnerabilities in software, hardware and operating systems, stopped publishing new entries. Then, in April 2025, a leaked letter suggested that the funding for the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures program cve, which served as a key numbering system for tracking software flaws, was about to expire. Both programs helped patch vulnerabilities in cybersecurity systems, which are the second most common targets for cyber attackers. The CVE's funding was eventually extended, but the backlog and vulnerabilities disclosed to the NVD has stretched to 25,000, roughly 10 times its previous high. MIT Technology Review has this story, and we'll put the link to it in today's show Notes all right, on to today's Numbers section. The estimated number of workers in California's legal cannabis market in 2024 was 78,618, according to a May 2025 report from the UCLA Labor Center. Next the percentages of workers surveyed in the cannabis industry who self reported their ethnicity as Latino or Hispanic was 38% who said they were white was 32%, and who said they were African American or black was 22%. Next the size in square feet of Glass House Brand's cannabis facility in Camarillo, California, is 5.5 million square feet. Next the percentage of Americans who approve of President Donald Trump's handling of immigration is 47.3%, and those who disapprove is 50.1%, according to RealClearPolitics's average of polls through July 8. Next the percentage of Americans who said immigration levels in the US should be decreased was 55% in 2024, according to a Gallup poll. And next, the percentage of Americans who said immigration in the US should be decreased was 30% in a new Gallup poll that was released on July 11th. Next the number of individuals booked into detention by Immigration and Customs enforcement between October 1, 2024 and June 14, 2025, was 204,297, according to a Cato Institute report. And finally, the percentage of those booked into detention who had no prior criminal convictions was 65%. And let's bring it home with today's have a nice day story. Even though early screenings are one of the best ways to prevent cancer deaths, one in four women in the United States is behind on their cervical cancer screenings. One reason for this may be that the standard cervical cancer screen method, a Pap smear, is physically invasive. However, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new at home self testing option developed by Select Laboratories, a startup exploring the feasibility of placing nanomaterials in menstrual pads to detect the virus that frequently causes cervical cancer. Women are desperate for proper healthcare that is made for them by them and that they can trust. Connecticut Murphy, a leading researcher at select, said this technology is not only wanted, but desperately needed. Good Good Good has this story and again, we'll put the link to it in today's show Notes all right, that is it for today's edition. Thanks for hanging with us. We will be back tomorrow. Talk to you then. Have a good one.
Will K. Back
Our Executive Editor and founder is me, Isaac Saul and our Executive producer is John Lowell. Today's episode was edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Our editorial staff is led by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman with Senior Editor Will K. Back and Associate Editors Hunter Casperson, Audrey Moorhead, Bailey Saul, Lindsay Knuth and Kendall White. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet75. To learn more about Tangle and to sign up for a membership, please visit our website@retangle.com.
John Lowell
If your dog could talk, they'd beg for Ollie. The full body tail wag, the excited little hops, the big goofy grin. That's the Ollie effect. Ollie delivers clean, fresh nutrition in five drool worthy flavors, even for the pickiest eaters. Made in US Kitchens with high quality human grade ingredients, Ollie's food contains no fillers, no preservatives, just real food. Just fill out Ollie's 30 second quiz and they'll create a customized meal plan based on your pup's weight, activity level and other health info. Dogs deserve the best and that means fresh, healthy food. Head to ollie.com healthypup Tell them about your dog and use code HEALTHYP off your welcome kit when you subscribe today. Plus they offer a happiness guarantee on the first box so if you're not completely satisfied, you'll get your money back. That's O L L I-e.com HealthyPup and enter code HealthyPup to get 60% off your first box.
Howie Mandel
I can't tell you how often I hear, oh, I'm a little ocd. I like things neat. That's not ocd. I'm Howie Mandel and I know this because I have ocd. Actual OCD causes relentless unwanted thoughts. What if I did something terrible and forgo? What if I'm a bad person? Why am I thinking this terrible thing? It makes you question absolutely everything and you'll do anything to feel better. OCD is debilitating, but it's also highly treatable with the right kind of therapy. Regular talk therapy doesn't cut it. OCD needs specialized therapy. That's why I wanna tell you about NO cd. NOCD is the world's largest virtual therapy provider for ocd. Their licensed therapists provide specialized therapy virtually, and it's covered by Insurance for 155 million Americans. If you think you might be struggling with OCD, visit nocd.com to schedule a free 15 minute call and learn more. That's n o c d dot com.
John Lowell
Got a new puppy or kitten? Congrats. But also, yikes. Between crates, beds, toys, treats, and those first few vet visits, you've probably already dropped a small fortune. Which is where Lemonade Pet Insurance comes in. It helps you cover vet costs so that you can focus on what's best for you and your new pet. The coverage is customizable, sign up is quick and easy, and your claims are handled in as little as 3 seconds. Pro Tip Lemonade offers a package specifically for puppies and kittens. Get a'llemonade.com pet your future self will thank you. Your pet won't. They don't know what insurance is.
Episode: The Immigration Raids in California
Host: Isaac Saul
Release Date: July 14, 2025
In this episode of Tangle, host Isaac Saul delves into the controversial Southern California immigration raids, particularly focusing on two significant raids at cannabis farms. The discussion encompasses the events of the raids, diverse political perspectives, legal implications, and Isaac's personal analysis of the situation.
On Thursday, federal immigration authorities executed raids at two licensed cannabis farms in California, arresting 319 individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. These operations, conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), also resulted in the discovery of 10 children believed to be in the country illegally. Moreover, four U.S. citizens were apprehended for allegedly assaulting or resisting officers during the raids ([06:14]).
The raids are considered the second-largest single-state ICE operation in history. During the enforcement actions, protesters clashed with federal agents, leading to the deployment of tear gas and other crowd control measures. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Los Angeles has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of a suspect who fired a handgun at law enforcement officers during the protests ([09:14]).
A tragic outcome of these raids includes the death of a farm worker who fell from the roof of a greenhouse at one of the targeted farms ([06:08]).
President Donald Trump vehemently criticized the protesters on Truth Social, asserting the administration's firm stance on protecting ICE officers. He stated:
“I am giving total authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the public.” ([06:14])
Contrastingly, the United Farm Workers Union condemned the raids, highlighting the human cost and the impact on American communities:
“Many workers, including US Citizens, were held by federal authorities at the farm for eight hours or more. These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families. There is no city, state or federal district where it is legal to terrorize and detain people for being brown and working in agriculture.” ([06:14])
On Friday, a federal judge ruled in favor of challengers suing the Trump administration over ICE's operational tactics in Los Angeles. The ruling banned ICE from detaining suspects based on appearance, spoken language, or occupation, deeming such actions a violation of the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The plaintiffs argued they were targeted solely based on their ethnicity and occupation during multiple raids since June 6 ([06:14]).
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the ruling, claiming it undermines the will of the American people ([06:14]).
Prominent voices from the left have expressed strong opposition to the raids, arguing that they are politically damaging and unjustified. Max Burns from The Hill noted:
“Trump's draconian immigration crackdowns may play well with his MAGA base, but they're still alienating nearly everyone else, including the mainstream conservatives Republicans will depend on to protect their fragile congressional majorities next year.” ([11:05])
Larry Strauss from USA Today highlighted the racial selectivity of the immigration laws, emphasizing the disruption caused to law-abiding families and workers:
“We are protesting now not because we are lawless, but because what is happening is a racially selective application of immigration laws that should have been reformed years ago. We are protesting because we still believe in decency, human dignity and respect for hard work and family.” ([11:05])
Conversely, voices from the right criticize Democrats for downplaying the severity of the raids and the presence of children at the cannabis farms. The Washington Examiner editorial board asserted:
“Democrats defend child labor at California marijuana Farms... Cannabis farm Glass House Farms is growing so fast it doesn't have time to pay its workers. At least that was what a class action lawsuit alleged last year.” ([11:05])
Carolyn Downey of National Review argued for stricter employment verification standards, advocating for mandatory E-Verify to curb illegal labor in agriculture:
“Illegal farm workers make up approximately 50% of the farm labor workforce in the U.S... Businesses should be required to use this system, which stands the best chance of shutting down the market for illegal labor and therefore stemming the flood of illegal aliens to our border, hopefully for decades to come.” ([11:05])
California-based writers provided critical analysis of the administration's tactics:
Jim Newton from CalMatters described the raids as "political theater," emphasizing the disproportionate and ongoing deployment of National Guard troops without substantial incidents.
Joel Kotkin of the Los Angeles Times underscored the economic dependency on undocumented labor, suggesting that the low-wage, high-welfare economy reliant on illegal immigration is unsustainable. He called for common-sense immigration policies that focus on securing borders and prioritizing immigrants with valuable skills ([11:05]).
Will K. Back, Senior Editor, introduces the main story, after which Isaac Saul provides his analysis:
Cannabis Farm Raids: Isaac highlights the irony in Republicans criticizing labor law violations for minors while opposing regulations that limit workers' rights. He notes that even reputable operations like Glass House Farms, owned by a former cop and Trump supporter, are implicated in employing unauthorized workers, including minors. Isaac raises concerns about child trafficking and the dangerous confrontations between protesters and ICE agents during the raids.
Administration's Enforcement Tactics: He criticizes the militarization of immigration enforcement, pointing out the negative impact on both military reputation and public perception. Isaac emphasizes the constitutional violations arising from profiling based on ethnicity and occupation, stressing that such tactics erode fundamental American rights. He argues that while the administration's aggressive stance may reduce illegal immigration numbers, it comes at a significant cost to civil liberties and community trust.
Isaac concludes by advocating for preventative measures to limit illegal immigration, suggesting that addressing the root causes is more effective and humane than mass deportations.
The episode provides a multifaceted examination of the recent immigration raids in California, presenting viewpoints from both ends of the political spectrum, legal perspectives, and local writers' insights. Isaac Saul offers a balanced yet critical perspective, urging for comprehensive immigration reform that respects individual rights while addressing the complexities of unauthorized immigration.
Isaac Saul [06:14]: “These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families.”
President Donald Trump [06:14]: “I am giving total authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the public.”
Max Burns [11:05]: “Trump's draconian immigration crackdowns may play well with his MAGA base, but they're still alienating nearly everyone else...”
Larry Strauss [11:05]: “We are protesting because we still believe in decency, human dignity and respect for hard work and family.”
Carolyn Downey [11:05]: “Businesses should be required to use [E-Verify], which stands the best chance of shutting down the market for illegal labor...”
The episode also covers a Corrections section, addressing an error from a previous podcast episode regarding the death year of Jeffrey Epstein. Isaac Saul emphasizes the podcast's commitment to transparency by tracking corrections, highlighting the importance of accuracy in reporting.
Additionally, the Numbers Section provides statistical insights into the legal cannabis market in California, public opinion on Trump's immigration policies, and data on ICE detentions, enhancing the episode's informational depth.
"Tangle" effectively navigates the complex and emotionally charged topic of immigration enforcement in Southern California. By incorporating diverse perspectives, legal analyses, and personal insights, the podcast offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the issue's multifaceted nature.