The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: DA Bregman on Defending New Mexico from Trump’s Attacks
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, Jordy Meiselas)
Featured Guest: Sam Bregman (District Attorney of Bernalillo County, NM, Democratic Candidate for Governor)

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Sam Bregman, current Bernalillo County District Attorney and gubernatorial candidate in New Mexico, discussing his staunch opposition to the Trump administration's immigration actions and broader attacks on democracy, civil rights, and social welfare in New Mexico. The MeidasTouch brothers and political analyst Ron Filipkowski dissect the fallout from Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), highlight examples of overreach and corruption, and share personal stories from New Mexican communities resisting federal overstep, all with the show’s trademark mix of outrage, policy depth, and “brotherly banter.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Collapse and Corruption of Trump’s DOJ and FBI

• Mass Resignations and Internal Purges

  • Over 3,000 resignations or firings at the DOJ and similar numbers at the FBI under Trump.
  • Top FBI officials have resigned after refusing orders to abandon civil rights investigations (e.g., cover-up of Renee Nicole Good’s shooting in Minneapolis) [04:43-07:11].

• Judicial Pushback

  • Judges from both parties express disgust at unethical practices, threatening to disbar Trump-appointed officials engaging in misconduct [04:43].

• Weaponization of Law Enforcement

  • Political targeting of activists and journalists, such as Don Lemon, including the use of AI-manipulated evidence and public threats from Attorney General Pam Bondi [07:23].

“You have that Trump-appointed judge ... said, I'm going to take away your bar license. ... How utterly, utterly pathetic.”
— Ron Filipkowski [04:43]

2. Retaliation Against Protesters and Journalists

• Pam Bondi’s On-Air Threats
  • Aggressive posture toward journalists framed as agitators, notably Don Lemon, for covering protests against ICE and local church involvement [07:21-08:28].

“If you protested ... we are coming after you. ... We don’t live in a third world country. We’re going to protect our houses of worship.”
— Pam Bondi [07:23]

3. Local Resistance: DA Sam Bregman’s Stand in New Mexico

• Legal Framework for Defending New Mexicans
  • New Mexico law does not allow ICE to detain individuals without a warrant, reasonable suspicion, or probable cause; Bregman pledges to prosecute ICE agents who violate state law [13:07].

“If ICE comes in without a warrant, without reasonable suspicion, without probable cause, that is false imprisonment in New Mexico. ... We are going to hold ICE accountable.”
— Sam Bregman [13:07]

• Impact of Federal Overreach on Crime-Fighting
  • Aggressive ICE tactics hinder crime investigation by making immigrant communities afraid to report crimes or testify, including victims of rape [16:01].

“I have a victim of rape who's not going to testify because they're so afraid … it doesn't help when it comes to fighting crimes. … It's the worst thing.”
— Sam Bregman [16:01]

4. Human Consequences: Family Separations & Abuse

• Children Targeted by DHS Tactics
  • The detention of minors (e.g., two-year-old Chloe Velasis) and use of chemical agents to forcibly remove families, even in defiance of court orders [10:38-11:59].

5. The 2026 New Mexico Gubernatorial Race

• Broader Impact of Trump Policies on New Mexico
  • Medicaid cuts: 40% of New Mexicans rely on Medicaid, exacerbated by Washington slashing funds [17:58].
  • Tariffs and affordability: Trump's trade and economic policies increase costs and hurt state residents.
  • Heightened fear: National Guard and ICE presence, and militarization, create a sense of siege.

“It’s just being mean for the sake of being mean, hurting people for the sake of hurting people… the attack on democracy speaks for itself.”
— Sam Bregman [17:58]

• Call for Real Leadership
  • Bregman advocates resistance—vowing as governor to push back against federal abuses and focus on solving state-specific challenges like crime, education, healthcare, and opportunity [19:49-20:31].

6. Pardons, Hypocrisy & Disrespecting Law Enforcement

• Trump’s Pardons for Major Criminals
  • Trump’s record of pardoning major drug traffickers and white-collar criminals undercuts and disrespects law enforcement efforts [20:31-21:24].

“It’s disrespectful to every law enforcement officer out there that works so hard to make all of us safe… and then you pardon a massive major drug dealer.”
— Sam Bregman [21:24]

7. The Underlying Cruelty of Policy

• The Meanness of the Regime
  • The administration’s apparent enjoyment in cruelty and harm, from Medicaid cuts to ICE roundups, is repeatedly stressed as the animus driving current federal policies [22:49-23:39].

“The cruelty, the cruelty of… let’s just cut back Medicaid by hundreds of millions of dollars and see how much damage we can do. … This is a crazy world we’re living in right now. It’s not the America I grew up in.”
— Sam Bregman [23:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We can’t normalize the idea of throwing the Fourth Amendment and throwing all of our criminal laws out the window to appease ICE. It’s not going to happen.”
  — Sam Bregman [13:07]

• “Donald Trump isn’t doing anything. In fact, he’s doing a lot of things to cause a lot of damage.”
  — Sam Bregman [19:49]

• “The government has declared Americans the enemy from within. ... That’s why you need tough people like you standing up.”
  — Podcast Host [22:53]

Important Segment Timestamps

| Time | Segment & Speaker | Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 04:43 | Ron Filipkowski | DOJ/FBI resignations; judicial critique of malfeasance. | | 07:23 | Pam Bondi (clip) | On-air threats against Don Lemon and protesters. | | 08:58 | Mary Moriarty (clip) | Local DA on FBI investigation shutdown. | | 10:38 | Ron Filipkowski | DHS targeting children, specific case of Chloe Velasis. | | 13:07 | Sam Bregman | Legal defense against ICE, threats to prosecute agents. | | 16:01 | Sam Bregman | How ICE tactics undermine local crime-fighting. | | 17:58 | Sam Bregman | Broader Trump policy damage in NM (Medicaid, tariffs). | | 21:24 | Sam Bregman | Trump’s pardons disrespect law enforcement. | | 23:39 | Sam Bregman | The cruelty at the heart of current federal policies. | | 24:30 | Sam Bregman | Campaign info and final message. |

Closing

Final Message from Sam Bregman:

“We’re going to push back and fight against Donald Trump every single time...You have to have tough people, people who are willing to come out and speak out and push back. That’s exactly the kind of governor I’m going to be.” [24:30]

For more information on Sam Bregman’s campaign, visit BregmanForNM.com.

Summary prepared to equip listeners and non-listeners alike with a thorough, clear, and engaging account of this episode’s themes, arguments, and key voices.