The Jim Acosta Show

Episode: Miles Taylor and Maria McFarland Sanchez Marino on DEFIANCE. Plus VA House Speaker Don Scott on Dem Plans to Redraw Congressional Map to Counter Trump
Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Jim Acosta
Guests: Miles Taylor, Maria McFarland Sanchez Moreno, Don Scott

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the concept of “defiance” in the era of Trump’s second administration. Jim Acosta talks to Miles Taylor and Maria McFarland Sanchez Moreno about their new organization, Defiance, a grassroots effort designed to mobilize Americans against the administration's policies, which they describe as autocratic and vengeful. The discussion also covers the erosion of democratic norms, Trump’s threats (including military action and the resumption of nuclear testing), strategies for civic engagement, and the importance of nonviolent resistance. In the second segment, Acosta interviews Virginia House Speaker Don Scott about Democratic plans to redraw the Commonwealth’s congressional maps in response to GOP-led gerrymandering elsewhere. The episode closes with a passionate call for American defiance in the face of rising repressive policies, particularly those targeting immigrants and minorities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Launch of Defiance: Mobilizing Against Autocracy

[00:06–03:11]

• Genesis of Defiance:

  • Miles Taylor explains the birth of Defiance.org as an answer to “What can I do?” in response to Trump’s targeting of political enemies.
  • “Let's just create a landing page for this. Let's create a club for courageous Americans who want answers to that question.” — Miles Taylor [01:36]
  • Defiance is pitched as a “mutual aid pact” and “a club” where members pool resources and support vetted organizations like Represent Us.

• Mobilization, Not Complacency:

  • Acosta and guests stress the need for Americans to get off the sidelines and resist despair or complacency.
  • Maria McFarland Sanchez Moreno draws from her experience in Peru under autocracy and contrasts it with US democratic ideals.
  • “If we can speak to people across partisan differences about the things that unite us – American democratic ideals like the rule of law and checks and balances – then that is something that can give us a starting place to take them forward to a better place.” — Maria [05:04]

2. Celebrity Advocacy and Peaceful Resistance

[05:51–09:18]

• Robert De Niro's Involvement:

  • Acosta highlights Robert De Niro's participation as a major morale booster.
  • Clip played: De Niro urges Americans to join Defiance, emphasizing peaceful protest.
  • “Together, we will defy leaders who govern by stupidity, corruption and vengeance...The time for defiance is now.” — Robert De Niro [06:33]

• Wider Engagement:

  • Taylor credits De Niro for inspiring other celebrities and influencers to speak out.
  • Defiance will give members alternatives beyond protest: legal action, whistleblower support, litigation.

3. The Legal and Institutional Fight

[09:18–10:18]

• Courts and Congressional Action:
  • Moreno notes litigation has had some successes, but the Supreme Court’s reluctance to check Trump is a major concern.
  • “We need to support the judges who are trying to do the right thing despite death threats.” — Maria [09:57]
  • Emphasis on Congress as another battleground for civic pressure.

4. Trump’s Authoritarian Moves: Military, Nuclear Testing, and Fear

[10:18–18:25]

• Insurrection Act and Use of Force:

  • Acosta and Taylor discuss Trump’s fixation with the Insurrection Act and potential deployment of the military to suppress dissent or possibly intimidate voters.
  • “He used to call [the Insurrection Act] in private his magical authorities or his magical powers. Your President believes he has magical powers.” — Miles Taylor [12:28]
  • Taylor warns 2026 may see actual military presence at polling places.

• Nuclear Testing:

  • Trump’s musings about resuming nuclear tests are explored, with Taylor recalling DHS preparations against miscalculation during Trump’s first term.
  • “Here's a man who we are already worried enough has his finger on the red button and now he's telling us he wants to practice pressing it.” — Miles Taylor [16:41]

5. The Consequences of Unpopularity and Escalating Repression

[18:25–21:12]

• Why Trump’s Unpopularity is Dangerous:
  • Acosta and guests discuss how Trump's unpopularity makes him more repressive: “He has to crack down harder. He has to use fear and intimidation and fuel despair.” — Maria [19:52]
  • Urges to not give in to hopelessness: “It's not hopeless. There's tons of hope. People need to take action.” — Maria [20:14]

6. How Defiance Works: Easy Entry, Mutual Aid, and “Taking the High Ground”

[21:12–23:12]

• How to Join and Get Involved:
  • Taylor explains Defiance’s mutual aid pact, easy signup, and participatory funding/direction.
  • “Resistance has always felt like a thing you're doing in response to being assaulted... Defiance, to me, is going to take the high ground. It's an affirmative action.” — Miles Taylor [22:45]
  • Maria echoes the American tradition of defiance as a moral imperative.

7. Personal Stakes and Warning for the Future

[23:50–29:45]

• Becoming Targets:

  • Taylor reflects on the personal cost of being among the first targets of Trump’s revenge campaign, but takes pride in defiance.
  • “If there's any good that can come from the hell they've put my family through, it's to try to make it a lot harder for them to do that to other people. And I'm full in it now.” — Miles Taylor [24:37]

• Historical Parallels and Warnings:

  • Moreno describes her family’s history with autocracy in Peru and how the US now risks the same fate, citing DHS being hijacked for “pocket police.”

8. Interview with VA House Speaker Don Scott: Countering Republican Gerrymanders

[31:51–43:59]

• Virginia Dems’ “Fire with Fire” Redistricting:

  • Scott describes efforts to trigger Congressional map re-draws in Virginia as a defensive response to aggressive GOP gerrymanders in Texas and North Carolina.
  • “We have a right to defend ourselves. Republicans talk about defense a lot. This is one of those things that we have a right to defend ourselves.” — Don Scott [35:02]

• Potential Democratic Gains:

  • If successful, “I don't see why we couldn't draw nine [Democratic seats in Virginia].” — Don Scott [34:10]

• Extreme GOP Candidacies and Culture Wars:

  • Scott and Acosta discuss the extremity of current Virginia Republican candidates, particularly Winsome Earl Sears, and the focus on “culture wars” issues.
  • “They're the Pee and Poop Caucus. Where do kids go to the bathroom?” — Don Scott [38:36]

• Implications for Policy and Governance:

  • Discussion of real legislative consequences (e.g. reproductive rights, SNAP benefits, economy) and the dangers of normalization.

9. Final Commentary: ICE Abuses, Racist Immigration Policy, and the Need for Defiance

[44:04–end]

• ICE and Racial Targeting:

  • Acosta shows newly surfaced videos of ICE violence against Latinos, calling the Trump administration’s policies explicitly racist, moving to dramatically reduce refugee admissions, favoring white South Africans.
  • “Give me a break. ... Donald Trump is throwing away all of that with this racist policy... Are those Donald Trump's kind of people, apartheid people?” — Jim Acosta [46:53]

• American Identity and Call to Action:

  • Acosta returns to his personal immigrant heritage, underscoring the betrayal of the American dream under the Trump regime.
  • “We're going to need defiance. And we're going to need it from you, the American people. ... You can't be compliant. You have to be defiant, considering what we're up against.” — Jim Acosta [52:19]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Taylor, on Trump’s power fantasies:

  • “Your President of the United States believes he has magical powers.” [12:28]

• Robert De Niro, video message:

  • “The time for standing by is over. The time for defiance is now.” [06:33]

• Maria, on activism in the US v. other countries:

  • “If we can speak to people across partisan differences about the things that unite us... that can give us a starting place to... take them forward to a better place.” [05:04]

• Don Scott, on redistricting:

  • “We have a right to defend ourselves. ... This is the only way we can defend ourselves against a blatant power grab by the president.” [35:02]

• Acosta, on ICE and immigration:

  • “There are... these bananas, batshit crazy ICE videos... And as Miles Taylor was describing them earlier, like the Gestapo in this country.” [45:33]

• Taylor, on the privilege of fighting back:

  • “We could lament our circumstances or... feel honored that we have the opportunity, like generations before us, to keep the Republic.” [26:31]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:06] Jim Acosta opens with Trump’s latest threats and introduces guests.
• [01:10] Miles Taylor describes the genesis of Defiance.
• [03:40] Maria’s personal experience with autocracy and her motivation.
• [06:29] Robert De Niro’s video message played.
• [09:18] Focus on litigation and pressure on Congress.
• [10:18] Discussion shifts to Trump’s expansion of executive powers, military threats.
• [12:28] Taylor’s experiences with Trump’s desire to use the Insurrection Act.
• [16:10] Discussion of Trump’s nuclear testing rhetoric.
• [21:12] Taylor explains Defiance’s model and philosophy.
• [24:20] Personal costs and stakes for political targets.
• [31:51] Interview with Don Scott on redistricting in Virginia.
• [34:03] Redistricting’s potential impact in congressional seats.
• [35:02] Justification for Democratic map redraw.
• [38:36] Culture war politics and extremism in VA GOP.
• [44:04] Acosta’s commentary on ICE abuses and racially biased refugee policy.
• [46:53] Acosta’s explicit accusation of apartheid-style immigration preferences.
• [52:19] Final call for defiance.

Tone and Language

The episode is candid, fiery, and unflinching—marked by a sense of urgency. Acosta, Taylor, and Scott deploy humor, anger, and passionate patriotism, often using blunt and colorful language ("batshit crack crazy", "Gestapo", "mad king," "Pee and Poop Caucus") to drive their points home.

Conclusion

Jim Acosta’s episode melds bipartisan alarm, historical parallels, and a practical, action-oriented approach to resisting what the guests unanimously see as Trump’s slide into autocracy. Defiance is offered as both a word and a roadmap: not merely resisting, but affirmatively taking the moral high ground to protect American democracy. Virginia’s political maneuvers are presented as local manifestations of this resistance, with voting rights and representative government at stake. The episode closes with a direct challenge to listeners: Defiance is required now, from everyone, in the face of ongoing and escalating assaults on American values.