The Jim Acosta Show

Episode: Steve Schmidt Blasts Bondi in New Ad Blitz
Date: February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this charged episode, Jim Acosta hosts political strategist Steve Schmidt for a candid conversation following Attorney General Pam Bondi’s controversial testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. The episode examines the broader context of rising authoritarianism during Trump’s second term, a bold new ad campaign by the Save America Movement, and escalating concerns over ICE operations and the undermining of US institutions. The conversation is punctuated by potent critique, dark humor, and a call for civic awakening.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Pam Bondi’s Disastrous House Testimony

[00:09–06:54]

• Bondi’s behavior: Acosta and Schmidt discuss Bondi's refusal to face Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors and her combative demeanor.

  • Schmidt: “Her personal behavior was utterly unhinged, psychotic even. This is a person who has destroyed the integrity of the Justice Department... And every prosecutor has a decision to make. You either leave now, or you are tainted by this and you should appropriately be fired.” [01:53]
  • Acosta: “I can't imagine a more offensive performance by a Cabinet official... That is a uniquely shameful moment.” [01:08]

• Moral and historical reckoning: Schmidt predicts Bondi will be remembered in infamy, possibly disbarred or imprisoned after the next administration.

  • “This appearance will be seen in law schools and ethics 101... Every first-year law student’s going to sit in a class and watch that disgrace. And it is a disgrace. There are no words for it.” [01:53]

• Notable Quote (Schmidt):
  “At the hour of her death, it will be etched onto her tombstone. This appearance will be seen in law schools and ethics 101. We will have an awakening of ethics in America after this.” [01:53]

2. The Save America Movement’s Scathing Ad Blitz

[06:24–08:33]

• Targeting Bondi: They play and discuss a new ad labeling Bondi a "pedophile protector," alleging she is covering up Epstein’s client list and evidence.

  • “Pam Bondi also told us there were thousands of videos. Now, pedophile protector Pam is lying.” [06:24]
  • Schmidt does not mince words: “She’s a woman with no integrity. In fact, she’s evil. And I don’t use that word loosely.” [06:54]

• The larger picture: The campaign draws a parallel between Bondi’s actions and a broader collapse of federal justice, requiring a complete rebuild.

  • Schmidt: “[Pam Bondi] will go down in history as one of the greatest villains in American history. And because of Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice is going to be taken down to its studs...” [07:41]

3. Attacks on Constitutional Freedoms and the Rise of Authoritarianism

[08:33–11:15]

• Authoritarian tactics: Acosta notes a federal judge (appointed by George W. Bush) ruled in favor of Senator Mark Kelly’s First Amendment rights, an indication even conservative judges are perceiving governmental overreach.
• Schmidt and Acosta agree: These moves contribute to an alarming trend toward authoritarianism and fascism in the US.

4. International Expansion of the Fight: Ad Campaigns in Canada and Poland

[09:59–18:02]

• Canadian-focused campaign: Save America Movement launches ads warning Canadians about “the cancer of MAGA,” and Trump’s threats.

  • “In Donald Trump's Canada, citizens will be beaten, executed, or thrown into concentration camps with no due process.” [09:59]
  • Schmidt: “We’re sending a message to the 40 million people of our ally, our friend... that we will oppose this, we will fiercely resist it, and we will stand up for Canada.” [11:15]

• Global implications: The campaign is going transnational, targeting allies and US embassy staff in Denmark and Poland, highlighting the threat to world democracies.

• Polish-focused campaign: New ad in English and Polish draws parallels between Trump’s policies and historical fascism.

  • “Poland has seen evil descend upon it before. It knows the sound of fascist boots.” [15:20]
  • Schmidt: “The American ambassador is a disgrace. He’s a Trump stooge... He is spreading misery under the American flag...” [16:47]

5. ICE Operations, Detention Centers, and Human Rights

[18:02–24:04]

• ICE’s retreat and re-deployment: Discussion follows news ICE is ending its crackdown in Minneapolis and speculation about where they’ll go next.

• Humanitarian crisis: Schmidt decries ICE detention centers as “concentration camps,” highlighting abhorrent conditions and abuses.

  • “When you have 70 people laying in their feces on floors, can't get medicine, can't get outside, or being abused, being tortured... It is more appropriate to call these concentration camps.” [19:16]
  • “The assault on Minnesota is amongst the most despicable events in the history of the country.” [21:29]

• Call for structural reform: Schmidt predicts ICE and Border Patrol will inevitably be disbanded and replaced.

• Notable Moment: Schmidt on Tom Homan, ICE, and the legacy of child separation:

  • “Tom Homan, who calls himself a Catholic preposterously, is the architect of an evil policy, the child separation policy that hearkens to some of the worst abuses in our nation's history, back to the days of slavery...” [21:00]

6. The Gathering Political Storm: Trump’s Toxicity and 2026 Midterm Outlook

[24:04–31:15]

• Plummeting approval for Trump: Trump’s numbers are the “worst since Nixon post–Watergate,” attributed to ICE operations, authoritarian policies, and general chaos.

  • “His numbers in the private polling... is about 35, 36% right now. What you have to understand is that the Latino vote... it’s gone. Obliterated. Kaboom. The black vote... it’s gone.” [25:14]
  • “The wave is going to be 50ft high. The wave is going to be biblical. The wipeout in this election will be talked about for the rest of American history.” [26:38]

• A warning to Democrats: Schmidt cautions that an electoral landslide is not an endorsement of current Democratic leadership—it’s a desperation move by voters seeking rescue.

• Agenda for reform: Schmidt lays out a sweeping program:

  • Breaking up Homeland Security, big tech companies, and Amazon.
  • Nationalizing SpaceX and removing Elon Musk as CEO.
  • “And remember, I'm not a Democratic socialist, I'm a former Republican, and I say this in the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt progressive Republicanism.” [29:19]

• Leadership deficit: Calls for conviction-based leadership, urging Democrats not to rely solely on polling:

  • “Franklin Roosevelt didn’t poll. Abraham Lincoln didn’t have polling. Sometimes leadership has to be conviction based. You have to say, I'm prepared to lose an election standing for the right against the wrong.” [30:29]

7. The Underreported Crisis: Climate Change Under Trump

[31:45–End]

• Acosta pivots to climate: Expresses frustration that climate change is underreported—even in independent media—despite it being the top issue for young people.

• Trump administration’s assault: Administration erases scientific finding that climate change is a threat, removing the power to limit key pollutants.

  • Acosta: “The Trump administration announced... that they are erasing the scientific finding that climate change endangers human health and the environment, ending the federal government's legal authority to control the pollution that is dangerously heating the planet.” [31:45]

• Impact on global leadership: Acosta warns US abdication on climate signals to other major emitters (China, India, Russia) to follow suit.

• Personal touch: Acosta shares firsthand impressions from ski towns with no snow and emphasizes the real, cumulative impacts of climate change.

  • “The ski resorts out west are having one of the worst seasons that they've ever had... their industry is being decimated right now because the winters are getting shorter on both ends.” [33:12]

• Rallying young voters: Urges engagement on climate and sees hope in generational activism.

Notable Quotes

• Steve Schmidt on Pam Bondi’s hearing:
  “Her personal behavior was utterly unhinged, psychotic even. This is a person who has destroyed the integrity of the Justice Department.” [01:53]

• On Trump’s collapse:
  “The wave is going to be 50ft high. The wipeout in this election will be talked about for the rest of American history.” [26:38]

• On the need for leadership:
  “Franklin Roosevelt didn’t poll. Abraham Lincoln didn’t have polling. Sometimes leadership has to be conviction based. You have to say, I'm prepared to lose an election standing for the right against the wrong.” [30:29]

• On the ICE detentions:
  “It is more appropriate to call these concentration camps. That’s what they are.” [19:16]

• Acosta on climate and media:
  “It is just grossly uncovered by mainstream media, legacy media, corporate media. And I don’t think we do it enough in independent media... The time to start caring about climate change was yesterday.” [31:45 & 36:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pam Bondi’s Testimony and Fallout: [00:09–06:54]
• Save America’s New Ads: [06:24–08:33]
• Authoritarian Overreach and Courts: [08:33–11:15]
• Ad Campaigns in Canada, Poland, Denmark: [09:59–18:02]
• ICE, Detention Camps, Human Rights Crisis: [18:02–24:04]
• Trump’s Political Toxicity & Schmidt’s Strategic Forecast: [24:04–31:15]
• Climate Change Segment: [31:45–end]

Final Thoughts and Tone

This episode is unflinchingly direct, with both Acosta and Schmidt holding little back. The tone is urgent, often confrontational, and leavened with grim humor and rhetorical flourish. Schmidt, in particular, blends deep outrage with a sense of historical consequence. Throughout, both speakers emphasize the dangers of authoritarian drift and the need for institutional reform, personal conviction, and renewed public engagement—especially from the rising generation.

For listeners: If you missed the episode, this summary covers its passionate critiques, grim diagnoses, and calls to action—both for immediate accountability and broader reform. Whether you’re seeking insight into today’s political crisis or motivation for activism, Acosta and Schmidt deliver a bracing dose of both.