The Jim Acosta Show — September 29, 2025

Episode: "ICE Runs Wild with Shutdown Looming"

Guests: Kat Abughazaleh (Democratic candidate, Illinois), Chris Meagher (Former Pentagon Spokesperson)

Host: Jim Acosta

Overview

As a government shutdown looms in Washington, Jim Acosta discusses the escalating militarization of American cities—specifically the aggressive actions of ICE under the Trump administration. He interviews Kat Abughazaleh, a Democratic congressional candidate recently assaulted by ICE at a protest, and Chris Meagher, former Pentagon spokesperson, about the Trump administration’s tactics, the Project 2025 agenda, and increased pressure on federal agencies, the military, and protesters. The episode is a deep dive into the erosion of democratic norms, the targeting of vulnerable communities, and urgent calls for political courage and accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ICE Escalation and Protester Violence

[00:00–08:55]

• Acosta introduces Kat Abughazaleh—whose recent assault by ICE at a protest gained national attention.

• Kat details the militarized response to regular protests at Chicago's Broadview ICE processing facility.

  • Notable quote:
    "That video is actually the third time that ICE has thrown me to the ground. ... If they're willing to do that to a congressional candidate on camera in front of press, what are they willing to do behind boarded up windows?" — Kat Abughazaleh [01:44]
  • Protesters face tear gas, pepper balls, flashbangs, and masked agents with minimal identification.
  • Facility conditions are dire: reports of detainees—grandmothers, pregnant women—sleeping on concrete, detained for days or weeks, deprived of basic needs.
  • ICE recently erected an illegal fence to deter protests; local fire officials ordered it down, but ICE refused.
  • Urgent call: Kat urges Illinoisans and officials to join weekly protests and demand facility transparency and closure.

• On personal risk:

  • Kat describes the surreal violence she faces: "From other angles, you can see me literally in the air. ... I have a giant bruise on my ass because of it." — Kat [05:19]
  • Emphasizes that abuses against detainees are far worse.

• The chilling escalation:
  "Every single person I have talked to that I have protested with ... were completely gobsmacked at just how intense it is, how unlawful, how excessive it is. It is a war zone ... Broadview is." — Kat [06:04]

  • ICE threatens to "terrorize" the town if protests persist.

2. Trump’s Militarization of Cities & Government Shutdown Politics

[08:55–13:33]

• Trump administration unleashes militarized ICE and National Guard in cities like Chicago and Portland under the guise of law and order.

  • Acosta references viral incidents, including ICE officers chasing civilians.

• The looming government shutdown is weaponized as leverage:
  "I think the most powerful thing Democrats can do right now, without the House, without the Senate, without the Supreme Court, without the presidency, is say, we are not going to be a party to your inhumane ideas for funding this country." — Kat [09:24]

  • Kat calls for Democrats to offer tangible help—mutual aid, food banks—instead of empty statements.

• On leveraging power:
  "Democrats have some levers. They should have a checklist of things that they're going to insist on in order to offer up some votes..." — Acosta [11:20]

• Kat rebuffs false compromises:

  • "Compromise isn't the idea of getting your hand cut off and being grateful they left you your pinky. And that's where I feel like a lot of the party's at right now." — Kat [12:15]

3. Kat Abughazaleh’s Journey & Right-Wing Media Ecosystem

[13:33–20:38]

• Kat traces her political evolution and motivation for running:

  • Former right-wing upbringing, shifted by exposure to systemic inequities.
  • Work at Media Matters led to understanding deep influence of far-right media figures (Tucker Carlson, Bannon, et al.)
    • Details how GOP policy is shaped by right-wing media pressure.
    • Points to lack of media/tech literacy among political leaders.
  • "We have told them time and time again ... about COVID misinformation, the big lie ... and no one has listened. And I got sick of waiting around for someone else to do something." — Kat [14:19]

• Her campaign focuses on grassroots organizing, transparency, and mutual aid.

• Gen Z, right-wing radicalization, and the battle for digital spaces:

  • "Republicans play comms ... on easy mode, because fear is the most primal human emotion. ... Trump comes in and he says, I have solutions and they're bad solutions and they're stupid solutions. But ... he says, I have solutions." — Kat [21:18]
  • Critiques Democratic hesitance to criticize party leadership; contrasts with right’s willingness to foster critical public dialogue through influencers.

4. Democratic Party Dynamics and Future Leadership

[22:45–24:08]

• Acosta raises establishment resistance to progressive newcomers (e.g., David Hogg being ignored).
• Kat pledges term limits, prioritizing action over careerism:
  • "We need leaders that are willing to put their ass on the line and say, if I don't get elected again, that's democracy. That's fine. What I need to do is actually represent my values and my constituents' values." — Kat [23:21]

5. Trump Administration’s Militarization & Project 2025

Guest: Chris Meagher (Former Pentagon Spokesperson)
[25:16–44:03]

• Discusses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unprecedented summoning of all generals to Quantico:

  • "This is basically unprecedented ... and this just added more chaos and confusion and questions to what would actually be going down tomorrow." — Chris [26:55]
  • Acosta likens it to North Korean-style loyalty rallies, questions if the aim is to intimidate military leadership into compliance.

• Meagher details chaos and cronyism at the Pentagon:

  • Hegseth’s lack of experience, history of mismanagement, and allegations of misconduct undermine military confidence.
  • "This was very intentional by him to sit down the top brass at the Department of Defense and remind them, you work for me, with the veiled threats of potentially consolidating the number of generals that exist in the first place..." — Chris [30:17]

• Military’s morale amid city militarizations:

  • "They didn't sign up ... to patrol United States streets. ... The United States military is to go out and defend our country elsewhere." — Chris [34:21]

• Press freedom under attack:

  • New restrictions require Pentagon reporters to sign pledges not to report unauthorized info (even unclassified), risking loss of credentials:

    • "It's ... bizarro Twilight Zone, nutty world ... to kick People out if they don't abide by these ridiculous, like, authoritarian restrictions is just nuts." — Acosta [39:10]

  • Meagher underscores the democratic role of the press:

    • "The American people deserve to know what their United States military is doing each and every day. ... Just because you don't like the questions ... doesn't mean that you just shut that down." — Chris [40:16]

6. Shutdown Politics, Project 2025, and Democratic Agency

[44:03–End]

• Acosta connects ongoing layoffs, agency closures, and ICE aggression to Project 2025’s radical transformation of government.
  • "Project 2025 is still being rolled out as we speak ... Why are Democrats getting dragged into this?" — Acosta [43:55]
  • Demands that GOP leaders take responsibility instead of making Democrats the default negotiators.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If they're willing to do that to a congressional candidate on camera in front of press, what are they willing to do behind boarded up windows?”
  — Kat Abughazaleh [01:44]

• “They don't give a damn about our rights.”
  — Kat Abughazaleh [05:57]

• “Compromise isn't the idea of getting your hand cut off and being grateful they left you your pinky.”
  — Kat Abughazaleh [12:15]

• “Republicans play comms ... on easy mode, because fear is the most primal human emotion.”
  — Kat Abughazaleh [21:18]

• “I want to get in, get some fascists out, do some good, and go back to hanging out with my cat.”
  — Kat Abughazaleh [23:21]

• “This is basically unprecedented ... it’s just added more chaos and confusion and questions to what would actually be going down tomorrow.”
  — Chris Meagher [26:55]

• “They didn't sign up ... to patrol United States streets. ... The United States military is to go out and defend our country elsewhere.”
  — Chris Meagher [34:21]

• “Just because you don't like the questions that they ask ... doesn't mean that you just shut that down.”
  — Chris Meagher [40:16]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• ICE Assaults & Protester Conditions: [01:44–08:55]
• Trump’s Militarization & Shutdown Leverage: [08:55–13:33]
• Kat’s Political Journey & Far-Right Media: [13:33–20:38]
• Democratic Party Dynamics: [22:45–24:08]
• Pentagon Power Play, Press Restrictions: [25:16–44:03]
• Project 2025 & Democratic Response: [44:03–End]

Conclusion

Jim Acosta’s episode lays bare the alarming normalization of authoritarian practices—from ICE abuses and military pageantry to systemic attacks on press freedom. Both guests urge that courage and action must replace accommodation and inertia among those defending American democracy:

• Kat Abughazaleh’s personal risks and boots-on-the-ground activism serve as a rallying cry for transparency, accountability, and refusing to accept compromise on basic rights.
• Chris Meagher warns of lasting institutional damage—militarized cities, demoralized forces, and democratic backsliding—if unchecked.
• Acosta insists Democrats cannot enable Trump’s project and must use all available leverage to slow the march toward authoritarianism.

“Don’t give into the lies. Don’t give into fear. Hold on to the truth. And hope.”