How fights over ICE funding are playing out on the Hill and in midterm races

Summary

---

The NPR Politics Podcast

Episode: How fights over ICE funding are playing out on the Hill and in midterm races
Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts/Reporters: Tamara Keith, Ashley Lopez, Sam Greenglass, Elena Moore

---

Episode Overview

This episode discusses the contentious debates on Capitol Hill over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with particular focus on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amidst public outrage after deadly shootings by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. The hosts explain how these policy standoffs are impacting congressional negotiations and shaping campaign rhetoric ahead of the 2026 midterm elections—especially within the Democratic Party, where calls to "Abolish ICE" are re-emerging. The show explores the political stakes, divides, and public reactions to ICE funding and enforcement, with insights from lawmakers, candidates, and voters.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The DHS/ICE Funding Standoff

• Partial Government Shutdown Origins

  • The shutdown was triggered by Democrats refusing additional DHS funding without legal guardrails to prevent aggressive enforcement tactics, following two deadly shootings by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.
  • "They ran out of money. They ran out of time. But then they came together and passed a temporary extension of that Homeland Security funding..." – Tamara Keith (01:05)

• Temporary Compromise & Unresolved Issues

  • Congress passed a short-term funding extension for DHS (until Feb 13), but tensions remain high, as both parties failed to secure their demands in negotiations.
  • "A lot of people aren't happy, right?" – Ashley Lopez (01:52)
  • Republicans want full DHS funding, Democrats wanted stronger reforms on immigration enforcement.

• Negotiation Breakdown

  • Demands lists from Democrats (10 items, including body cams, judicial warrants, transparency) are dismissed by Republicans.
  • Republican Senator Katie Britt referred to Democrats' proposal as "a Christmas list of demands." – paraphrased by Sam Greenglass (03:26)

• No Clear Path to Compromise

  • Minority party resistance and time pressure make meaningful reform before the next deadline unlikely.
  • "They are fighting about the process of negotiating. They aren’t even fighting about the substance." – Tamara Keith (05:05)

2. Political Fallout & Public Perception

• Dissatisfaction in Both Parties

  • Neither side is satisfied, and the lack of resolution is fueling negative perceptions of congressional efficacy.

• Perceptions of Democratic Weakness

  • Swing/independent voters often cite Democratic indecision and the slow response as signs of weakness.
  • "When you hear voters talk about Democrats right now, the word weak comes up so much..." – Ashley Lopez (05:13)

• Potential for More Delays

  • Continued use of continuing resolutions ("kicking the can down the road") is likely.
  • Noted that even if DHS funding lapses, ICE has a surplus from the previous year's appropriation, but other agencies (FEMA, Coast Guard, TSA) would be affected.
  • "ICE has plenty of money, regardless... That is not gonna run out." – Sam Greenglass (05:57)

• Human Impact & Stakeholder Voices

  • The emotional stakes are raised by testimony from victims’ families.
  • "In the last few weeks, our family took some consolation thinking that perhaps Nay’s death would bring about change... And it has not." – Luke Ganger, brother of Renee Macklin Goode (07:08–07:21)

3. Midterms & the Politics of “Abolish ICE”

[08:34–20:17]

• Growing Progressive Pressure

  • Recent incidents have emboldened progressive candidates to call for ICE’s abolition, arguing reforms are not enough.
  • Ex: Darielisa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old organizer challenging Rep. Adriano Espaillat in NYC, is running on an unapologetic "Abolish ICE" platform.
    • "If a candidate can't even bring themselves to say the words 'abolish ICE'... then I think it's time for new leadership." – Darielisa Avila Chevalier (10:53–11:03)

• Generational and Ideological Divides

  • Progressive challengers often represent younger generations pushing incumbents to the left, especially in safe blue seats.
  • This strategy is often rooted in “core beliefs” rather than opportunism, but high-profile events (like Minneapolis shootings) intensify advocacy.

• Mixed Reception & Caution Among Democrats

  • Some polls indicate support for abolishing ICE, especially among base voters.
  • However, moderate Democrats and strategists warn that embracing “Abolish ICE” could harm the party nationally, likening it to the backlash against “Defund the Police.”
    • John Cowan (Third Way) argues the movement could be a “dead end” and distract from holding Republicans and the Trump administration accountable.
      • "For the folks who have passionately embraced the slogan Abolish ICE, they’re walking down a road that’s a dead end." – John Cowan via Sam Greenglass (17:18–17:30)

• Historical Context

  • The slogan originated in 2018, during the Trump administration's family separation policy, and was key to AOC’s surprise primary win.

• The Funding Boom

  • ICE’s budget has ballooned: from under $6 billion ten years ago to $85 billion today (Ashley Lopez, 13:17), a frequent talking point for progressives challenging incumbents.

• Narrative Control & Republican Strategy

  • There’s concern that standout positions in blue districts (e.g., “Abolish ICE”) will be weaponized by Republicans to paint all Democrats as extreme, regardless of individual candidates’ stances (18:30).
  • "A lot of Democrats will be able to run a little differently than someone who’s running for a Senate seat and has to convince an entire statewide electorate." – Ashley Lopez (18:52)

4. Party Objectives & Internal Strategy

• Primaries as Battlegrounds

  • Progressives use primaries in safe blue districts to push the party’s direction; moderates focus on retaining or flipping swing seats.
  • Tension between energizing the base and appealing to the general electorate.

• Communication Challenges

  • The existence of multiple “fights” within the party can confuse voters and help Republicans.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Standoff:
  "Everybody’s just sort of upset right now." – Ashley Lopez (01:52)

• On Congressional Dysfunction:
  "They are fighting about the process of negotiating. They aren’t even fighting about the substance." – Tamara Keith (05:05)

• On Democratic Political Perception:
  "This is the sort of thing that [voters] get frustrated about… the word ‘weak’ comes up so much..." – Ashley Lopez (05:13)

• On Public Testimony:
  "Thinking that perhaps Nay’s death would bring about change in our country. And it has not." – Luke Ganger (07:13–07:21)

• On Progressive Pressure:
  "If a candidate can’t even bring themselves to say the words ‘abolish ICE’... then I think it’s time for new leadership." – Darielisa Avila Chevalier (11:03)

• On Party Messaging Risks:
  "For the folks who have passionately embraced the slogan Abolish ICE, they’re walking down a road that’s a dead end." – John Cowan (17:30)

• Revisiting “Abolish ICE” History:
  "2018 and 2020 were not bad years for Democrats. And that’s when that was the height of Abolish ICE." – Ashley Lopez (17:30)

---

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:42 – Shutdown explained; background on Minneapolis shootings
• 01:16 – Bridge funding, the new deadline, nobody satisfied
• 03:26–04:46 – Negotiation impasse, Democratic demands, reaction from both sides
• 05:13 – Public/voter perception of Democrats as “weak”
• 05:57–07:22 – Continuing resolution possibility, ICE funding status, family testimony
• 08:34–12:53 – “Abolish ICE” enters the midterm campaign; progressive candidates’ positions and voter reactions
• 12:53–14:43 – Historical perspective on abolishing federal departments (ICE vs. Commerce/Education/etc.)
• 14:43–17:30 – Funding talk, risk of backlash, parallels to “Defund the Police,” strategic advice
• 17:30–18:52 – Reflection on recent cycles, primary dynamics, Republican counter-strategy
• 18:52–20:17 – The implications of primary outcomes and internal party objectives

---

Language & Tone Notes

• The episode maintains NPR's characteristically measured, analytical tone mixed with candid, conversational insight.
• Much of the language blends explanation with dry, occasionally wry, humor—especially when discussing the intractability of Congress or recurring political cycles.

---

Summary Takeaways

• Congress faces an imminent, unresolved standoff over DHS/ICE funding, with both parties deeply dissatisfied and public opinion volatile.
• Progressive Democrats are seizing the opportunity to push for "Abolish ICE" as a campaign rallying cry, especially in blue districts, while moderates urge caution and focus on targeted reform.
• The internal struggle within the Democratic Party is mirrored in public voter frustration, with perceptions of weakness and dysfunction threatening to cloud broader messaging ahead of the midterms.
• Republican strategists are poised to use the most left-wing Democratic slogans to brand the party nationwide, despite local variations.
• How these fights play out may help determine the future direction of Democratic immigration policy—and perhaps the outcome of several primary and general election contests.

---

Transcript

[Elena Moore]

This message comes from Carvana, who makes buying and financing your next car easy. Thousands of vehicles, terms up front and 100% online. Even get it delivered to your door. Buy your car the easy way with Carvana. Delivery fee may apply.

[Tamara Keith]

Hey there. It's the NPR Politics podcast for Friday, February 6, 2026. I'm Tamara Keith. I cover the White House.

[Ashley Lopez]

I'm Ashley Lopez. I cover politics.

[Sam Greenglass]

I'm Sam Greenglass. I cover Congress.

[Tamara Keith]

And let's talk about the week that was in Washington, starting with the blink and you'll miss it. Partial government shutdown. Sam, remind us, why was there a shutdown in the first place?

[Sam Greenglass]

The short answer is the two deadly shootings by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. Democrats said that they would not approve more funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, without adding guardrails in the law to restrain these enforcement tactics.

[Tamara Keith]

And they ran out of money. They ran out of time. But then they came together and passed a temporary extension of that Homeland Security funding and funded the rest of the government for the rest of the year.

[Sam Greenglass]

So, yeah, so we had this partial shutdown because the House had to come back and sign off on that deal. The House was not in Washington. Once they did come back and sign off, it actually set up another deadline clock, as you mentioned. And that is because under this deal, DHS is funded only through February 13th. So Congress is now back on the hook to try and figure out not only a funding package but also potentially some solutions related to immigration enforcement tactics.

[Tamara Keith]

So, Ashley, the shutdown ended, but there wasn't much of a celebration. I don't get the sense that anybody got what they really wanted here.

[Ashley Lopez]

Yeah, classic compromise. A lot of people aren't happy, right? On the Republican side, there were a lot of Republicans who wanted to see DHS funded in that bill. They didn't like that that was stripped from the package that passed. And on the Democratic side, there are a lot of Democrats who were frustrated that the party didn't capitalize on this moment of there being a lot of frustration about ICE and what's happening at DHS and not using that as leverage to get something more aggressive, some more aggressive reform included in whatever gets passed. So everybody's just sort of upset right now.

[Tamara Keith]

Standard in this town, leverage is a thing that comes back and there's yet another deadline. So, Sam, the DHS portion was only two weeks long. That means there is this cliff coming back. Are there talks? What is happening?

[Sam Greenglass]

Well, I think you nodded at this here Congress has literally just a couple of days to try and coalesce around some reforms, and that's a pretty tall order. And they also have to keep funding flowing to the Department of Homeland Security, whether in the long term or even just temporarily, I guess. Early on, prominent Republicans and Democrats were signaling that they thought they could find some common ground here. But that really seems to be falling apart and both sides are pointing fingers about why that is. Democrats unveiled a list of, I think it was 10 demands, and Republicans dismissed a lot of them out of hand. Republican Senator Katie Britt of Alabama is leading negotiations on behalf of Senate Republicans and she called it basically a Christmas list of demands.

[Tamara Keith]

If you don't get a list of even demands from a group of people until one week after you say we've.

[Elena Moore]

Got two weeks, think about that clock.

[Tamara Keith]

How long does it take to figure out where you agree, what's a pathway.

[Ashley Lopez]

Forward and then to actually put that on paper and then to actually get.

[Tamara Keith]

That across the finish line? Sam, they do have that list now. What's on it?

[Sam Greenglass]

So there are some things that do have glimmers of bipartisan agreement on, like requiring body cameras for agents to be mandatory. But there are also some that Republicans have said are basically a no go, like requiring judicial warrants for enforcement operations, like requiring officers to remove face masks and identify themselves. And then there are also some demands that Republicans are making too, like targeting so called sanctuary cities. And that's a non starter for Democrats. So we're already hearing a lot of space between members of both parties who have must haves and no go's. And that's really making it difficult to see room for a potential compromise here, especially in a short period of time. I talked about this with Katie Britt's Democratic counterpart on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy.

[Tamara Keith]

I mean, the proposals we're making are not an effort to revolutionize the immigration code. We understand we can't fix every single problem. That's why we've been really targeted. But the fact that they, you know, are refusing to put a process together tells you that they're right now not.

[Sam Greenglass]

Serious, not sounding very promising there.

[Tamara Keith]

Like they are fighting about the process of negotiating. They aren't even fighting about the substance.

[Sam Greenglass]

It doesn't seem like it's both right now for sure.

[Ashley Lopez]

And this is like why when you hear a lot of voters talk about Democrats right now, the word weak comes up so much, especially when we're talking to like independent and swing voters. This is the sort of thing that they get frustrated about there have been few moments where Democrats have had so much political capital on an issue since Trump has taken office again. And the fact that the conversation is still in such a like sort of early stage is kind of insane because think about how much of a time window they even have this political capital for.

[Tamara Keith]

Well, Sam, there is this thing called the continuing resolution, AKA kicking the can down the road, which seems like a real possibility or maybe not. What are you watching for as these negotiations, such as they are play out?

[Sam Greenglass]

Yeah. So that is one thing I'll be watching for. If lawmakers give up on finding a policy solution here, which seems very possible, they still do have to deal with that funding deadline next Friday. ICE has plenty of money, regardless of whether funding runs out for dhs, because the one big beautiful bill that Congress passed last year gave billions of dollars to ice. That is not gonna run out. But DHS also includes fema, the Coast Guard, tsa. And so I'll be watching to see how this funding question shakes out and what that calculus exposes about maybe fissures within the party that Ashley's been alluding to about how to approach this moment. And then I guess one other thing I'll be watching a bit more broadly is if Congress fails to act on this broader policy question about reining in federal immigration enforcement, I'm curious what that means maybe for broader trust in Congress. I thought this tape was striking from testimony earlier this week from Luke Ganger. He's the brother of Renee Macklin Goode, the 37 year old killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last month.

[Elena Moore]

In the last few weeks, our family.

[Sam Greenglass]

Took some consolation.

[Ashley Lopez]

Thinking that perhaps Nay's death would bring about change in our country.

[Elena Moore]

And it has not.

[Sam Greenglass]

You know, this is the second time in a matter of months, really, that members on both sides of the aisle have promised to address something that polls show a majority of the public sees as a problem. You know, like those expiring health subsidies only for talks to crumble in the end here.

[Tamara Keith]

Well, Sam, we will give you the final word here. Thank you so much for joining us.

[Sam Greenglass]

Thanks for having me.

[Tamara Keith]

And let's take a quick break. When we come back, how ICE and DHS funding are already playing into the midterms.

[Sam Greenglass]

This year's Grammys featured historic wins for Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, lavish performances and occasional chaos. And it was a night of speeches that reflected this moment in Americ. Listen to a recap on pop culture Happy hour in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tamara Keith]

This week.

[Sam Greenglass]

On Up First, a high stakes funding fight over ICE tactics. Can Democrats negotiate any real change or will the Trump administration refuse to budge? Get up, get informed and get on with your morning. With up first, the top three stories you need to start your day, listen on the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts.

[Tamara Keith]

And we're back. And we're joined by NPR political reporter Elena Moore. Hey, Elena.

[Ashley Lopez]

Hey, guys.

[Tamara Keith]

So in the first part of the pod, we talked about the present, the ongoing debates over DHS and ICE funding. But I want to focus now on the future. How those debates. Yes, the future, sorry, how those debates are shaping how candidates for Congress are talking about immigration and immigration enforcement. And Elena, you and Jimena Bustillo, our immigration policy correspondent, have been looking at this, specifically the calls among some Democrats to abolish ICE altogether. What is their reasoning?

[Elena Moore]

Yeah, we've kind of noticed that there's really been an influx of candidates, Democrats running in different House races and some Senate races that have gotten really vocal on this issue. And I've been talking to some of them and many, you know, say that, you know, this is always been a core belief of theirs and it's been a core part of their campaign. But it's definitely been talked about more since what's happened in Minnesota. Many tell me that they just think that reforms to ICE just won't cut it. You know, that this idea of changes to an already flawed in their opinion system isn't good enough for this moment. And that's really something I'm hearing particularly from candidates who would call themselves progressive or more left than the typical established candidate. You know, these candidates would support things like Medicare for all or more affordable housing, stuff like that. And one of the candidates that I talked to who has been kind of unapologetically speaking on this idea of abolish ICE is 32 year old Darielisa Avila Chevalier, who is an organizer challenging 71 year old Congressman Adriano Espaillat in New York City, upper Manhattan and some of the Bronx. And she's really just one of these candidates that is kind of putting the pressure on Democratic incumbents. Here's what she told me when I asked about whether generational change was kind of part of what was bringing her to run for Congress. And she told me it's actually rooted in issues.

[Tamara Keith]

If I could trust that the leadership.

[Sam Greenglass]

We have was reflecting our values, I wouldn't be running.

[Tamara Keith]

If a candidate can't even bring themselves.

[Sam Greenglass]

To say the words abolish ice, when so much of the Democratic base wants to see that happen, then I think.

[Elena Moore]

It'S time for new leadership. And we should say that her opponent, Congressman Espaillat, he has called for dismantling the agency. He's called for a total overhaul, but he is not using that same language.

[Tamara Keith]

Abolish ICE is a slogan, has been a slogan for a while that is gaining a lot more resurgence, as you report. Is this message resonating?

[Elena Moore]

I mean, it's complicated because some polls will show that there is some sizable support for this idea of abolishing ice. And, you know, we know even in our recent NPR PBS News Marist poll that shows that a lot of Americans are just unhappy with the situation happening right now and how the Trump administration is addressing immigration enforcement. But also, like, I think that this is a big issue right now and we've got a lot of time before all of these primaries. That said, we know that it is something top of mind for voters, and it's been top of mind, especially in very early primaries and special elections. And that was on display this week In New Jersey, Jersey's 11th district, where there was a special election primary. That's the district that was recently vacated by now Governor of New Jersey, Mikey Sherrill. And the two top candidates that were running on the Democratic side in that race are Tom Malinowski, who used to be a congressman in the state, and an Alelia Mejia, who's endorsed by Bernie Sanders. And she's been unapologetically in support of abolishing ice. And it's a really close race. You know, at the time we're taping right now, the race has still not been called by the Associated Press. But, you know, we know immigration is a big issue there. So this is going to be an example where we can see how the issue might be affecting people's vote. But, you know, we can't put too much on that right now because there are so many reasons that bring people out to the polls. And this is just now one variable.

[Tamara Keith]

Ashley, political candidates and office holders running on the idea of getting rid of parts of government are not new. It's, it's kind of a bipartisan thing. In fact, President Obama floated getting rid of the Department of Commerce. President Trump and other Republicans before him have wanted to get rid of the Department of Education, Department of Energy. There's a list. Why is the idea of abolishing ICE different?

[Ashley Lopez]

Well, a couple things here. For one, ICE is a lot newer than, say, the Department of Commerce. I think it was created almost 100 years later. And also, you know, the DHS we have now and the version of ICE we have now was created during a very different time in this country. That was after 9, 11. There were more concerns about people within the interior of the country causing terroristic acts. We're in a different time now. And using this sort of like, muscle within the interior of the country, as we've seen from what voters have said in the polls, is like, not very popular. It's just not going well. Besides the fact that it has brought some really sad stories to the front, like, I don't see how this gets any better for Republicans and the White House. Having a bunch of people in American cities with guns, you know, in communities where there are families that are being torn apart, that is a very serious political problem for the party. And then also, you know, there has been so much money spent on ICE. Ten years ago, the annual budget for ICE was less than 6 billion. And it has ballooned in Trump's second term and now stands at about 85 billion. So the amount of money being spent when people are asking the government to solve their material problems with healthcare, childcare, stuff like that, that is also a who other issue.

[Tamara Keith]

Well, and the One Big Beautiful Bill act included a huge infusion of money into ice.

[Elena Moore]

And that's like one of the talking points I'm hearing from some of these candidates who are challenging Democratic incumbents who say, like, we know people want to talk about affordability, and we know that people are angry that they think their tax dollars are going to things they don't support.

[Tamara Keith]

Elena, I want to talk about another aspect of your story. You know, the. The slogan Abolish ICE dates back to 2018. It was a response to the child separation policy in the first Trump administration. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez won a surprise primary win, knocking off a powerful establishment Democrat with Abolish ICE as one of her main campaign issues. But there also has been caution from other Democrats on the more moderate side of things, saying, whoa, whoa, whoa, this could potentially cause a political problem.

[Elena Moore]

Yeah, I think there is concern that this could backfire. And like you said, we've seen Democratic voters and candidates really rally around some of these calls to, you know, abolish ICE because it is so emotionally charged. I mean, it's rooted in some really upsetting images or obviously, people have lost their lives this time around. And for a lot of these places where people are running, it's, you know, very blue cities that have had their own encounters with ICE over the last year. So it really hits like a personal stake. I think, for a lot of Candidates and voters. But you're exactly right. I mean, there are centrists who are sounding the alarm on this and worrying that this will backfire. One of them, very notably, is John Cowan at the centrist think tank Third Way. He talked to me about how he thinks Democrats should focus really on Trump's mistakes here and call for reforms, because he argues, you know, rallying around a new, another very attention grabbing slogan like Abolish ice, which does have a history that was not completely accepted by voters that can, he argues, you know, distract people from what he says should be the focus, which is the problems in this administration. And he actually compared what's happening right now to what happened in 2020 around the defund the police movement. He argued that that, you know, movement which was rooted again in this really, really personal and painful time for a lot of Americans politicians. He argues Trump used that moment to kind of paint Democrats nationwide as soft on crime. And he worries that that's gonna happen again in this moment.

[Sam Greenglass]

The divide in the Democratic Party is.

[Tamara Keith]

Not over rage, disgust and anger.

[Sam Greenglass]

The divide is what are you gonna do about it? And for the folks who have passionately embraced the slogan Abolish ice, they're walking down a road that's a dead end.

[Ashley Lopez]

I do also wanna say 2018 and 2020 were not bad years for Democrats. And that's when that was the height of Abolish ice. I just wanna say that that is, this is very classic Democrats wringing their hands. Looking back, a little bit of a revisionist history here, this wasn't unpopular enough to affect elections not in their favor. So I do think that we'll see what comes out of these special elections, including the one in New Jersey, how things shake out. For one, I say this a lot. Primaries and special election electorates are not gonna give you a great picture of what's gonna happen in November. But it is useful for parties to see what does sort of hurt them. What kind of candidates and kind of messages do work. But I think it is too early to say that responding to what happened in Minnesota with a lot of bold language is gonna hurt the party. I think you can't say that right now either. I think we'll have a better picture come the summer.

[Tamara Keith]

Yeah. And I think the other thing I'm watching for is if a lot of Abolish ICE candidates come out of primaries in districts that are very blue, does that then become the message of all Democratic candidates? Or do Republicans try to make it the message of all Democratic candidates, whether they're running In Ohio or California, I.

[Ashley Lopez]

Mean, upwards of 80, almost 90% of congressional seats are safe for either party. A lot of these races will be pretty much done during the primary season. Like, this will be settled then, pretty much. And so a lot of Democrats will be able to run a little differently than someone who's running for a Senate seat and has to convince an entire statewide electorate.

[Elena Moore]

I mean, it's a reminder that there's, like, two objectives in the Democratic Party right now. There's the, like, what do we do with our kind of fractured base? And how do we get, you know, solid Dems or people who identify as liberal or progressive, you know, what have you excited about the party again, and that might mean new leaders in office. And so that's when these primary matchups are really crucial because these challengers, they see part of their mission as, like, making these races competitive even though they are solid, you know, blue seats. I talked to people who were like, this is why I'm running. Because if this is a safe seat, we should, you know, be more bold because we have the constituency that's open to that. That's the argument. But at the same time, we know that, you know, House Democrats, Senate Democrats are laser focused on flipping seats, but that's a completely different fight. And I think that, like, those two things often get mushed together. And that might be a problem for Democrats because you can be clear about your two fights going on. But, like, if it's confusing to voters, it's confusing to voters, and that's gonna help Republicans potentially.

[Tamara Keith]

All right, well, we're gonna take one more break, and then when we come back, it's time for Can't Let It Go.

[Elena Moore]

Valentine's Day is coming up, and the.

[Ashley Lopez]

Perfect gift for the NPR lover in.

[Elena Moore]

Your life is waiting at the NPR shop. From cozy sweaters and mugs made for slow mornings to our tiny desk hoodie, there's something for every NPR fan. Each purchase supports public media and the journalism you love. Find something [e-mail] this message comes from NPR sponsor Shopify. No idea where to sell? Shopify puts you in control of every sales channel. It is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Whether you're a garage entrepreneur or IPO ready, Shopify is the only tool you need to start, run and grow your business without the struggle. Once you've reached your audience, Shopify has the Internet's best converting checkout to help you turn them from browsers to buyers. Go to Shopify.com NPR to take your business to the Next level today on.

[Tamara Keith]

The Throughline podcast from npr, the former slaveholder who took on the KKK and won. He became more and more and more militant as time went on.

[Elena Moore]

Listen to Throughline in the NPR app.

[Sam Greenglass]

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tamara Keith]

This is Tanya Moseley, co host of Fresh Air. You'll see your favorite actors, directors and comedians on late night TV shows or YouTube. But what you get with Fresh Air is a deep dive.

[Elena Moore]

Spend some quality time with people like.

[Tamara Keith]

Billie Eilish Questlove, Ariana Grande, Stephen Colbert, and so many more. We ask questions you won't hear asked anywhere else. Listen to the Fresh Air podcast from NPR and whyyy. And we're back. And it's time for Can't Let It Go, the part of the pod where we talk about the things from the week that we just can't stop thinking about politics or otherw. And I regret to inform you that I am going first. So last night, in a late night fusillade of videos and other posts from the president, as happens often late at night, the president's account put out a video featuring 2020 election conspiracy theories. And then it flashed to a couple seconds of a very overtly racist animation of Barack and Michelle Obama's faces smiling on ape bodies. That definitely caused a lot of backlash, including from South Carolina GOP Senator Tim Scott, who wrote on X praying it was fake because it's the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House. The president should remove it. Oh gosh, it like created a big storm. This is far from the first time that the president has posted far right and racist memes and that it has sparked outrage. And so the usual cycle began, which is White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt put out a statement and she says this is from an Internet meme depicting President Trump as the king of the jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public. But then something truly unexpected happened. The post was deleted.

[Ashley Lopez]

Oh, well, that is different.

[Tamara Keith]

It is different because usually they just double down, but this time they actually deleted the post. And then an unnamed White House official put out a new statement saying a White House staffer erroneously made the post. It has been taken down.

[Ashley Lopez]

Oh, wow. The classic blame a staffer movie.

[Elena Moore]

Yeah, I was gonna say tale is old as time. Time to blame the intern.

[Tamara Keith]

Yeah. But you know, the fact that this keeps happening, if nothing else, gives us a lot of insight into his information bubble, like where he's getting his information and also his validation.

[Elena Moore]

I mean, I feel like it's such a striking time that, like, the President continuously and really, like, a lot of the White House operation posts so many, like, AI generated memes and videos and content, and, like, we have to kind of, like, figure out how to cover that and, like, figure out both, you know, what this video is implying. And like you said, like, this video is obviously making a lot of people upset. It's a racist depiction of the former president and former first lady. But it's also, you know, part of a bigger trend we're seeing from the White House of really relying on this as this style of AI generated content as part of their, like, comm strategy.

[Tamara Keith]

It's very much part of their comm strategy, though maybe not this particular one.

[Elena Moore]

Right, Exactly.

[Tamara Keith]

All right, Elena, what can't you let go of?

[Elena Moore]

All right, so I'm gonna pivot.

[Tamara Keith]

Sorry to bring us down. Please bring us up.

[Elena Moore]

Okay, so I'm gonna talk about my love of Amtrak. Yes, I am unapologetically and obnoxiously on the Northeast Corridor. I'm taping this right now in my home city of New York City. I was on an Amtrak this morning. I'm gonna talk about the fact that earlier this month, the incredible news organization, the Washington Post, staffed by incredible reporters, and we're all thinking about them. This week, the Washington Post reported a story, and the headline is such Amtrak is selling a $279 tracksuit. And then it says, literally, who wants this? And that's the headline.

[Tamara Keith]

Wait, did you buy it?

[Elena Moore]

I dived into the idea. Okay, so I. That's what I was gonna say. I have complicated feelings. I think that the tracksuit looks fire. I think it looks great. Do I have $279 to spend on? Probably not. Especially because I missed my train this morning, had to get on a later train, which was about, I would say, half the price of that tracksuit. So my tracksuit budget has been depleted hardcore by the actual institution. And also, I'm doing some very minimal investigative reporting, and I don't even see this tracksuit available on the website. So it was either, like, a very limited quantity or there are a lot of people who got, like, some, like, nice little, you know, tax refunds or something that they put towards this tracksuit. But it looks pretty cool.

[Ashley Lopez]

Did you miss your train for Elena reasons or for Amtrak reasons? I do feel we need to clarify that.

[Elena Moore]

Yeah, that's valid. And, you know, when this happened, this is like classic Pisces energy. But I was Like, I'm not gonna tell anyone.

[Tamara Keith]

And then you just told us. I'm not. You told a lot of people just.

[Elena Moore]

Now in, like, probably the most public way I could have. No, I struggle with lateness. It's something I'm working on. I was about a minute late. I was like, God, I wish I could, like, text the conductor and she.

[Tamara Keith]

Please.

[Elena Moore]

But no, it was an Elena mess up. But, you know, we all have things that we have to work on in 2026, which I think is what year it is.

[Tamara Keith]

Yeah, I believe I've been working on that my entire life, and I have not gotten better. Ashley, what can't you let go of?

[Ashley Lopez]

Well, I am also going to talk about a Washington Post story because, like, Elena, I'm like, I just want to give him some love right now. Give him some shine and solidarity. Sorry to the folks over there thinking about you. So I want to talk about. Mostly I want to set the record straight for something that's in their headline. It is about iguanas falling from trees. Because it happens almost every year when there's a cold snap. Iguanas, for people who don't know, they're like, when their body temperature goes down, they go into, like. Basically they fall from the trees, their nervous system shuts down, they freeze and. They freeze a little. Yeah, they just literally, they just sort of like, fall from trees and just kind of irremobile for a while. I know this sounds wacky to everyone who's not from Florida. I'm from Miami. This is, like, very a normal part of my childhood. There has been an iguana problem there since I think, the 60s or 70s. They've been around for a while. They are an invasive species.

[Tamara Keith]

I had no idea they were invasive until this. Me neither.

[Ashley Lopez]

Yeah, I mean, half of the fauna, to be fair.

[Tamara Keith]

You mean like the pythons?

[Ashley Lopez]

South Florida feels like it's invasive. Anyway, so the story in the Washington Post is about how, like, a lot of conservationists are, you know, the iguana population has got out of control. And actually, this time when there's a cold snap and they're all just sort of falling from trees and you can easily spot them and grab them, is, like, a time to start killing them and eradicating them. But the way, like, this headline is written makes it sound like, you know, when iguanas start falling from the sky, people just start killing iguanas. And I want to say what I was taught about cold snaps is like, you're going to see some immobile iguanas. Don't throw them away. And I think it's like for two reasons we're told to do this. For one, you could suffocate them and die. And that was my understanding. But I think the real reason is like, they're going to wake up in your trash and claw everything to bits and it's going to make a mess in your neighborhood. So, yeah, so I've learned, you know, when I was a kid, like, yeah, just let the iguanas just sort of lie there.

[Tamara Keith]

Let the iguanas lie. Yeah.

[Ashley Lopez]

I always wanted to like, crochet little blankets for them because I thought maybe it would help them warm up. But that is silly. I didn't wasn't able to do that.

[Tamara Keith]

But maybe one day, maybe one day you can start your iguana blanket business on the side. You know what?

[Ashley Lopez]

That sounds whimsical. I'm into it.

[Tamara Keith]

Okay. Well, that is all for today. Our executive producer is Mathani Muturi. Our producers are Casey Morell and Bria Suggs. Our editor is Rachel Bay. Special thanks to Krishnadev Kalamer. I'm Tamara Keith. I cover the White House.

[Ashley Lopez]

I'm Ashley Lopez. I cover politics.

[Elena Moore]

And I'm Elena Moore. I also cover politics.

[Tamara Keith]

And thank you for listening to the NPR Politics podcast. On NPR's Wildcard podcast, Melinda French Gates on seeing her ex husband, Bill Gates name in the latest Epstein Files.

[Elena Moore]

For me, it's personally hard whenever those.

[Tamara Keith]

Details come up, right.

[Sam Greenglass]

Because brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.

[Tamara Keith]

Watch or listen to that Wild Card conversation on the NPR app or on YouTube @NPRWildcard. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of what we now celebrate as Black History Month. So on Code Switch, we're reflecting on that journey.

[Sam Greenglass]

Black History Month is a time for people to observe black history as a movement and a legacy that was about correcting the historical record.

[Tamara Keith]

Listen to NPR's Code Switch podcast on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.