Trump Caught on Camera as War Crimes Backfire in his Face

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Title: Trump Caught on Camera as War Crimes Backfire in his Face
Release Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Overview

In this searing episode, the Meiselas brothers analyze explosive footage and on-the-ground reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents under the Trump regime allegedly committing severe abuses across the United States, including the use of chemical agents, physical violence against nonviolent civilians, and the militarization of federal agencies. The hosts—especially lead anchor Ben—underscore the threat these actions pose to American democracy, bolster their coverage with dramatic first-hand video, and highlight the efforts of citizen journalists and politicians struggling against what they describe as authoritarian overreach. The tone is urgent, unapologetically pro-democracy, and punctuated by moments of righteous anger and solidarity with protestors and victims.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ICE Agents' Extreme Tactics, Violence, and Chemical Warfare ([01:01] – [03:56])

• Documented Atrocities: Ben opens with recent, graphic examples of ICE using force against citizens and immigrants alike, describing it as "militarized ICE Gestapo" engaging in "chemical warfare" and comparing current events to historical atrocities.
  • Quote [01:01], Ben:
    "Donald Trump has been caught on tape yet again unleashing some of the biggest atrocities we've ever seen here in the United States."
• Incident 1: Los Angeles Assault ([01:45]): Officers tackle a woman outside an ICE facility, with witnesses shouting accusations of sexual assault.
  • Quote [02:13], Witness:
    "What the fuck are you doing? You guys are pulling your fucking clothes off. Sexual assault is happening right now."
• Incident 2: Portland Pepper Spray ([03:56]): Peaceful conversations with ICE agents devolve when chemical agents are sprayed point blank into a woman's face.

2. ICE Attempting Disappearances and Public Pushback ([04:30] – [07:00])

• South Side Chicago Abduction Attempt ([04:30]): ICE agents try to detain an individual; locals intervene, honking and confronting ICE until the person escapes.
  • Quote [05:19], Protester:
    "Let him go."
• ICE Intimidation of Protesters ([07:00]): Agents repeatedly draw weapons on peaceful demonstrators nationwide.
  • Quote [07:27], Protester:
    "That's right. That's right. Get the fuck out of here, man."

3. ICE’s Escalating Aggression and Undermining of Law Enforcement ([07:39] – [14:20])

• ICE vs. Law Enforcement: ICE agents use chemical agents against Chicago PD, exposing even police to their tactics ([07:39]).
• Disinformation and False Reports ([14:20]): ICE accused of making bogus 911 calls to create confusion and to antagonize local law enforcement in Chicago.
  • Quote [15:45], Police:
    "Do you believe that that was a false call?"
    "I do."

4. Judicial, Political, and Community Resistance ([10:41] – [14:20])

• Judicial Rebuke ([10:41]): A Portland judge labels Trump's deployment of militarized law enforcement "untethered to the facts" and likens the situation to martial law.
• Trump’s Response to Court Orders ([10:41] – [11:33]): Trump allegedly ignores federal injunctions, calling up the California National Guard to Portland in what the hosts frame as open defiance.
  • Quote [11:38], Trump speech excerpt:
    "Portland is burning to the ground. It’s insurrectionists all over the place. It’s Antifa... They pretend like there’s nothing happening."

5. Gripping Firsthand and Community Stories ([12:56] – [18:11])

• Snipers on Rooftops / Provocations ([12:56]): ICE agents position "snipers" with pepper-ball guns above crowds of peaceful protesters.
  • Quote [12:56], Citizen journalist:
    "We have snipers on the roof that are shooting pepper balls at peaceful protesters... Now we have smoke being thrown..."
  • Quote [13:57], Witness:
    "They are literally using gas to cover their retreat... if this place is called a war zone for any reason, it’s because ICE, DHS, and police are making it look that way."
• Victims and Families Targeted ([16:23]): Story of Letitia “Letty” Nes, whose family raised $16,000 for a green card and who was detained by ICE at her final appointment.
  • Quote [17:18], Steven Rodriguez (Letty’s son):
    "She was having an interview to get her green card, and instead of receiving her green card, she was taken in handcuffs. …She’s the model citizen. She’s being treated like a criminal."
• ICE Brutality against US Citizens ([18:25]): Video and coverage of ICE agents body-slamming an unarmed citizen standing peacefully on the sidewalk.
  • Quote [18:45], Bystander:
    "He’s not doing anything. He’s not doing anything."

6. Escalation of ICE Budgets & Detention Capacity ([18:11])

• Reporting on Congress’s approval of a $3 billion budget for ICE, designed to double detention center capacity to 50,000 beds.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben condemns ongoing ICE tactics ([01:01]):

  “Donald Trump has been caught on tape yet again unleashing some of the biggest atrocities we've ever seen here in the United States."

• Protester during ICE assault ([02:13]):

  “You guys are pulling your fucking clothes off. Sexual assault is happening right now.”

• Trump’s own rhetoric on Portland ([11:38]):

  “Portland is burning to the ground. It’s insurrectionists all over the place. It’s Antifa…”

• Community member on rooftop snipers ([12:56]):

  “We have snipers on the roof that are shooting pepper balls at peaceful protesters... Now we have smoke being thrown…”

• Letty Nes’s son on her detention ([17:18]):

  “She’s a mother. She’s a church attendee. She does community service. She’s the model citizen. She’s being treated like a criminal.”

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:01] – Ben begins coverage of ICE “atrocities;” L.A. assault incident described
• [03:56] – Portland chemical spray incident
• [04:30] – South Side Chicago attempted ICE abduction and community resistance
• [07:00] – ICE agents pull weapons on protesters
• [10:41] – Judge condemns Trump’s martial law tactics
• [11:38] – Trump’s speech excerpt on Portland
• [12:56] – ICE snipers and pepper ball shootings in Portland
• [14:20] – ICE fakes 911 calls to antagonize police
• [16:23] – Letty Nes’ story: family’s heartbreak after ICE detention
• [18:25] – ICE body slam of U.S. citizen on camera

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Tone and Style

Consistent with the MeidasTouch brand, the episode is direct, impassioned, and unapologetically critical of Trump and ICE. There is brotherly banter and some moments of dark humor, but this episode stays focused on activism and solidarity, making both factual and emotional appeals to listeners. The use of direct quotes and live video/audio immerses listeners in the emotional weight of the events.

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Summary For New Listeners

If you missed the episode, the Meiselas brothers fiercely document and denounce a series of ICE abuses caught on camera under Trump’s regime: from sexual assaults and chemical warfare against civilians, to attempts to “disappear” people off the street, to armed intimidation of protesters. Firsthand accounts, video clips, and family stories highlight both the suffering of the victims and the everyday resistance of ordinary Americans. Judges and police are shown struggling to push back against the administration’s extreme measures, while communities rally publicly to defend neighbors. The episode ends with a call to action and a stark warning about the growing normalization of militarized federal violence.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[F]

Has been caught on tape yet again unleashing some of the biggest atrocities we've ever seen here in the United States. His militarized ICE Gestapo engaged in chemical warfare. They're patrolling the streets, just pulling out weapons. They have snipers positioned on roof and they're shooting non lethal pepper bullets into crowds. I mean, this is some horrific stuff. We have it all documented. I've been documenting this each and every day with. With the help, of course, and with the incredible work of local citizen journalists who are really putting in the hard work here and making sure that this gets televised and that this gets taped and that this gets recorded. Let me show you what goes down here. This is in Los Angeles, close to where I live. Four male officers tackle a woman outside an ICE facility. They start to rip off her clothes during an event. Stop pulling her clothes off. The people are yelling. You're assaulting her right now. She just pulled over to ask for directions. A witness explained. You're sexually assaulting. What are you doing here? Play this clip.

[C]

What are you doing? What the are you doing?

[G]

What the wrong with you guys?

[C]

You cannot. You cannot detain me. You are not allowed. You are allowed. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Don't touch me. Don't touch me. You are not allowed to detain me. You are not allowed to detain me. You are not. You guys just Escalate. Escalate. She was about to move. You guys are ridiculous. I am not. You guys are pulling your fucking clothes off. Sexual assault is happening right now. You guys are sexually assaulting this woman.

[G]

Wait, do you want me to move your car for you?

[C]

Yeah.

[G]

You want me to move your car for you?

[C]

You are obstructing my civil rights. You are obstructing my civil rights. You are not able to handle her any further. You will be. You are not allowed to handle her any further. Do not brutalize her. She not resisting my. You are abstracting my civil rights. You guys are all pigs.

[B]

You know that?

[C]

You guys are all pigs. You guys are all pigs. This is a bad look for you guys. If anyone is in charge here, you guys should be de. Escalating this. Look at what they're doing to her.

[F]

Next. This is outside of a Portland ICE facility right here where a man and woman were standing and talking with some of the ICE agents. And then they just spray her in the face with chemical agents. Here, play this clip.

[C]

Who is talking to you?

[F]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Hey.

[H]

This is the line that they created.

[G]

O.

[F]

Shout out to our friends right here from Migrant Insider. This is from the south side of Chicago right here where ICE tries to disappear a human being off the street. And you will see that the individuals who are living in the city, they start to say, what the hell are you doing? They start to honk. They start surrounding the cars mid abduction. This is at 63rd and Costner for those who are familiar with the south side Chicago area. And then the immigrant or individual, we don't know if it's an immigrant or a citizen that they were trying to disappear to a concentration camp fortunately is able to get away. Here, play this clip.

[G]

Let him go.

[C]

Are you lame?

[G]

Let him go. There.

[F]

And here you'll see what's taking place across the country right now where ICE agents just start randomly drawing and pointing their weapons at peaceful protesters. They just pull out their guns and just point it at you right now in the United States of America. I mean, it is crazy out there. Here, play this clip.

[G]

That's right. That's right. Get the out of here, man.

[F]

Can I help you with something, bro? And by the way, ICE agents are unleashing chemical warfare even against cops. This is ICE agents gassing Chicago PD brought to you by Ryan Garcia. Here, play this clip. Senator Ron Wyden over here posted this video of Portland, Oregon. This video was taken right after Donald Trump said that this was a war Average war tone war Zone that it's instant insurrection is everywhere. This is what it actually looked like and I love that Senator Wyden's posting it. This was one hour ago, right when Donald Trump started giving his speech yesterday. This is what it looked like outside the Portland ICE facility. Play this clip.

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[F]

And this is why that Portland, Oregon judge said that Donald Trump's behavior and conduct and statements was untethered with the facts. She said that Donald Trump was engaged in martial law, um, and without any authorization to do so. And then you heard what Donald Trump did. Right after that judge immigrant issued the order against Donald Trump, the Trump appointed judge. Trump then calls up the California National Guard to deploy them in Portland, Oregon after the federal judge issues an order against the Trump regime to cease and desist and to stop the troops in Portland, Oregon from the Oregon National Guard. Trump then calls up the California National Guard against the judge's order. You saw that last night. And here's what Donald Trump said yesterday about Portland is burning to the ground. You saw what it looked like here.

[C]

Play this clip of order in Portland.

[H]

We're going to look at that. It was amazing. Portland is burning to the ground. It's insurrectionists all over the place. It's antifa. And yet the politicians who are petrified, look, the politicians are afraid for their lives. That's the only reason that they say like there's nothing happening. And you've seen it, the place is burning down and they pretend like there's nothing happening. So we'll take a look at the order. We haven't seen the order yet.

[F]

And now this is what Donald Trump's having his ICE Gestapo do. They're on top of roofs shooting down sniper style pepper balls into the crowd, engaging in chemical warfare here in the United States. Play this clip here. A citizen journalist captures ICE opening fire with pepper bullets and their create. They're provoking the community. I mean that's what they're trying to do here. Play this clip.

[G]

So ICE is opening fire on protesters standing right here. They're not over the line either. They're actually not doing anything they're not supposed to be doing. And we have these snipers on the roof that are shooting pepper balls at peaceful protesters that again are just, you know, practicing their constitutional right. And this is the problem here in Portland is these police and these officers, these federal agents are completely unhinged. We have snipers on the rooftop that are active and now they're throwing smoke. Now we have smoke being thrown by.

[C]

Dude.

[G]

So that's what's happening right now.

[C]

How are you so stupid?

[G]

They are literally using gas to cover their retreat. That is what is happening right now. So if this place is called a war zone for any reason, it's because ice, DHS and police are making it look that way.

[F]

Also. One of the things that we've been learning about too is that ICE agents have been making phony phone calls to 911 and filing false police reports in Chicago in a deliberate scheme to antagonize local law enforcement there. I mean, these people are unhinged. These are unhinged human beings. Here. Play this clip.

[D]

You are watching as Broadview police respond to a 911 call claiming someone was tampering with a gate at the ICE detention facility there. Body camera footage obtained by the CBS News Chicago investigators shows several Broadview police officers respond to an alleged Homeland Security threat. The gate in question is where ICE takes detective detained immigrants for processing what's up, guys?

[G]

Hey. What's up?

[F]

Not much. Good.

[D]

We got a call of subjects trying to climb over the fence or something.

[H]

Not since we've been here.

[D]

But when police arrive, all they find is two people and a camera. Our CBS photographer filming the exterior of the building with a CBS security guard by his side.

[F]

Okay, and you guys didn't tamper with any of those? No, no, no, no, no, no, man.

[D]

The 911 call claiming someone was tampering with the gate came from an ICE agent. According to this incident report, an ICE agent called police for help, but he.

[F]

Can'T go and try to force his.

[H]

Way into that door.

[D]

Okay, so the guy in the police says recording. Do you believe that that was a false call?

[F]

I do.

[D]

Again, it was just our CBS photographer filming the exterior of the building. In your mind bogus?

[F]

Yes. It's disturbing. It's ridiculous.

[D]

Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills says this is just one of several questionable 911 calls his police department has received from ICE at this facility recently. This same detention center has become the site of at least three other incidents involving federal agents who are accused of hitting people with cars, shooting projectiles, and using chemical agents on journalists, including a CBS reporter last Sunday.

[F]

In this next clip, I'm going to show you, the community over here pooled their money together to pay for the green card of Letitia Letty Nes. Then ICE locked her up in a private prison. Instead, agents detained her when she showed up for a final green card appointment, a process that lasted years and cost $16,000. Family was waiting at her house. They were planning on celebrating. She wrote all the paperwork was done. She paid all of the fees. They had bowls of pozole rojo ready to go. But she never made it home. Why? Because ICE agents disappeared her. Kidnapped her at her court appearance on the day that she was going to celebrate. Here, play this clip.

[B]

This husband is also turned away. Steven Rodriguez is one of the couple's three kids.

[J]

She was having an interview to get her green card, and instead of receiving her green card, she was taken in handcuffs. She's a mother. She's a church attendee. She does community service. She's the model citizen. She's being treated like a criminal.

[B]

Then someone in the crowd holds up a phone. It's a video call from a woman inside the detention facility to say hello.

[G]

And they're so excited.

[C]

You are not alone.

[J]

They handed the phone to my mom, and we were able to see her just for a couple minutes.

[B]

Like many detainees far from home, Rodriguez says the fate of his mother is up in the air. She could be given a green card or she could be deported. But seeing all the supporters outside, he said, makes that uncertainty a little easier to bear.

[J]

We all feel a little better. We feel like we have more support on our side, and this cause is bigger than just our family.

[B]

This year, Congress approved $3 billion for ICE custody operations. The funding will support an additional 50,000 beds, doubling its current detention capacity. I'm Hilda Gutierrez, MBC Bay Area.

[F]

We investigate and by now you may have seen this clip right here as ICE body slammed an unarmed US Citizen into the ground who was just standing on a public sidewalk. Play the clip.

[G]

I.

[C]

He's not. He's not doing anything. You're seeing that? No, he's not doing anything. He's not doing anything.

[G]

I need you to stand over there.

[C]

I'm. Stand right here. You're going to stand where I told you to stand, right here.

[G]

Okay?

[C]

He's not doing anything.

[F]

Well, there you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. This was out of control. It's all caught on tape. You see it right there. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. Thanks for watching.

[I]

Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail] you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content only available at midasplus.

[F]

Com.