Podcast Summary: The PoliticsGirl Podcast – ICE out for GOOD: A Conversation with the ACLU

Podcast: The PoliticsGirl Podcast
Host: Leigh McGowan (Meidas Media Network)
Guest: Deirdre Schiefling (Chief Political and Advocacy Officer, ACLU)
Date: January 13, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode confronts the rise of aggressive and deadly ICE enforcement under the Trump administration. After the widely covered police shooting of Renee Nicole Goode in Minneapolis, host Leigh McGowan calls upon the ACLU’s Deirdre Schiefling to break down what’s happening, how democratic backsliding is impacting constitutional rights, and what regular citizens can do to protect democracy. The conversation covers legal and grassroots strategies, state and local defenses, election safeguarding, and the importance of organized peaceful resistance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Turning Point: Renee Goode’s Death and Escalating ICE Violence

• Context: Renee Nicole Goode’s shooting by ICE sparked a national conversation on state-sanctioned violence. This wasn’t isolated—ICE officers have shot at least nine people in recent months, all while officials claim self-defense.
• Media Manipulation: The administration rapidly justifies violence and smears victims, attempting to convince the public that “the truth doesn’t matter” (00:24).

2. The ACLU Response and Legal Status

• The ACLU has filed over 230 legal challenges since Trump’s 2025 inauguration, many focused on immigration and civil rights (03:36).
• Despite setbacks at the Supreme Court, lower courts remain a critical avenue for protecting rights (07:08).
• Quote: “All is not lost in the courts... judges are still acting to protect people’s rights at the lower court level. The Supreme Court is another story.” – Deirdre Schiefling (07:08)

3. People Power and the Importance of Public Protest

• The “ICE out for good” movement channeled massive protests—1,200 events in 48 hours nationwide (05:45).
• Schiefling highlights hope in the spontaneous public reaction and the necessity of continued peaceful resistance.

4. State, Local, and Everyday Citizen Power

• The ACLU’s “Firewall for Freedom” initiative partners with states and municipalities to pass protective laws and executive orders limiting federal overreach—88 measures passed in the past year (07:08).
• Everyday action is essential: “The government cannot trample on our rights if we don't let them.” – Deirdre Schiefling (08:55)
• Robust protest movements (“No Kings” protests) are identified as vital for preserving or restoring democracy.

5. Strategies for Resisting Authoritarian Escalation

• The administration appears to provoke violence to justify further crackdowns (“comply or die” mentality).
• ACLU and other groups extensively train protestors in de-escalation and knowing your rights; 80,000+ people trained recently (10:53).
• The most powerful tool remains the vote, especially as the administration leverages chaos to distract from failures and provoke division.

6. The Importance of Primaries and Down-Ballot Races

• All House seats, a third of the Senate, and numerous state and local offices are up for election; primaries are imminent (13:19).
• State/local elections and legislative actions can oppose federal overreach directly.

7. The Danger of Weaponized “Domestic Terrorism” Designation

• The administration now uses broad definitions to classify dissidents as domestic terrorists, using this as a legal pretext for crackdowns (20:05).
• Key Reference: Pam Bondi’s NSPM-7 memorandum sets a precedent for targeting a broad array of dissenters, including those merely filming ICE officers (21:20).
• ACLU reminds listeners that despite rhetoric, constitutional rights can’t be unilaterally erased by presidents (23:29).

8. Concrete Policy Examples of Local Resistance

• States like Delaware and Massachusetts are refusing federal cooperation (e.g., ending 287(g) agreements, passing reproductive rights shield laws) (25:32, 27:40).
• Community actions—like PTAs forming drop-off watches—offer grassroots protection in schools and neighborhoods.

9. Grassroots Tools and Volunteer Engagement

• The ACLU’s People Power program offers trainings on protest rights, election safeguarding, and organizing for local campaigns (32:14).
• Volunteers distribute “Know Your Rights” cards and engage in election protection efforts nationwide.

10. The Need to Reform and Rebuild Democracy

• ICE’s outsized budget and the excessive power of executive agencies highlight broader systemic breakdowns.
• The period after elections will be crucial for democratic rebuilding—restoring fair districts, reining in executive authority, and reconstructing basic checks and balances (39:27).
• Quote: “Our checks and balances have really broken down... This is a chance for us to really remake the kind of democracy we want to see because it has broken down so much in this moment.” – Deirdre Schiefling (39:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE’s escalation: “This government... has decided that it’s going to have ICE enforcement happen anywhere. That includes hospitals, that includes schools, that includes churches...”
  – Deirdre Schiefling (00:00)

• On resisting administration gaslighting: “If everyone is a domestic terrorist, then no one is a domestic terrorist.”
  – Leigh McGowan (20:05)

• On democracy’s turning point: “This is an extreme stress test for our democracy, for sure.”
  – Deirdre Schiefling (07:08)

• Hope for the future: “We have been through moments like this in the past... We are going to turn this around and we are going to get out of this. So I think get involved... We cannot allow a handful of people to take our democracy away. We will not. Not on our watch.”
  – Deirdre Schiefling (41:45)

• Engagement appeal: “Help us build the democracy we actually deserve.”
  – Lee McGowan / Deirdre Schiefling (42:21)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – 02:34: Episode opening, context of ICE violence, Renee Goode’s shooting.
• 03:36 – 07:08: ACLU’s legal strategy, overview of ongoing court battles and the “Firewall for Freedom” initiative.
• 10:53 – 13:19: De-escalation, voter engagement, and how to resist provocations.
• 18:07 – 20:05: Election safeguarding and resisting election rigging attempts.
• 21:20 – 24:20: Discussion of NSPM-7 and labeling dissenters as terrorists; reaffirmation of constitutional rights.
• 24:36 – 28:40: Details of local and state-level resistance, PTAs and shield laws.
• 32:14 – 34:20: Joining ACLU People Power, Know Your Rights trainings.
• 35:52 – 37:27: Urging continued public pressure on Congress and engagement in elections.
• 39:27 – 40:57: Building a better democracy in the inevitable rebuilding era.
• 41:45 – 42:43: Final rally: Americans must not allow democracy to be stolen; call to join the movement.

How to Get Involved

• ACLU People Power: Visit aclu.org → “Join People Power” for volunteer trainings and opportunities.
• Election Safeguarding: Both ACLU and allied groups are actively recruiting and training volunteers for election protection—crucial in key battleground states.
• Know Your Rights: Engage with distributed materials and trainings to understand your legal options at protests and during encounters with law enforcement.
• Contacting Congress: Regularly call your representatives about funding ICE and about broader civil rights priorities.

Final Thoughts

The guest and host underscore that while the situation is grave and democracy is under stress, significant hope lies in organized resistance, local/state action, and unyielding engagement. The episode’s tone is urgent, clear-eyed, and motivational—reminding Americans of their collective power, the importance of voting, and the need for unity across partisan lines.

“Not on our watch.”