The PoliticsGirl Podcast – “Live Free or Die”

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Leigh McGowan
Guest: Steve Schmidt (Political strategist, former Republican operative, Save America Movement founder)

Overview:

This deeply emotional episode tackles the escalating crisis in American democracy following the extrajudicial killing of Alex Preddy by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Leigh McGowan and returning guest Steve Schmidt discuss the erosion of democratic norms under the current administration, the complicity of both major political parties, and urge listeners to embrace activism, accountability, and moral courage. Schmidt calls for Americans to reassert their national identity, resist the slide into fascism, and demand tangible action from their leaders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Gravity of the Moment: Alex Preddy’s Killing

• [00:43] McGowan opens by naming the murder of Alex Preddy as emblematic of the current regime’s lawlessness and lies, stressing the importance of not succumbing to demoralization.
• [02:33] Schmidt describes a “double murder”—the physical killing and the subsequent state-led character assassination of Preddy:

  “We saw... a 37-year-old intensive care unit registered nurse... murdered. We saw him shot down dead by the American SS. And then came the murder of his character by the people that ordered his assassination... ICE thugs... believe they have immunity to kill at random.”

• Schmidt promises justice and accountability, invoking the legacy of American sacrifice for freedom:

  “Our inheritance is being stolen from us by gangsters.” (03:25)

2. Demand for True Opposition and Courageous Leadership

• [06:43] McGowan and Schmidt agree that the Democratic Party’s response has been insufficiently vigorous.

  “The Democrats are the opposition party... They’re the ones that should be standing up all the time being outraged, speaking on our behalf...” (06:45) — McGowan

• [07:35] Schmidt blasts both Democrats and Republicans for cowardice and self-interest, but singles out Republicans for complete capitulation:

  “They’re disloyal, and they sold out a long time ago... Breaking MAGA requires iron will and determination and strength by fighting Democrats. The number one thing the Democrats should be doing right now is making demands...” (07:35)

• He urges use of all lawful state and legislative powers to “obstruct this obscenity in a hundred different ways.”

  “Drop the fanboy and fangirl stuff. It’s for children... Power [must] be used at its full force to stop the abuse of power.” (11:18)

3. The Need for Aggressive Tactics & Rejecting “Normalcy”

• [12:56] McGowan highlights historical examples of effective opposition (McConnell, etc.), demanding Democrats throw “sand in the gears of this agenda.”
• [14:14] Schmidt:

  “Being fierce is the American thing to do. Live free or die is the American thing to do. Give me liberty or give me death is the American thing to do. How dare these people? How fucking dare they? We watched a masked government agent shoot a man in the back 10 times. Why don’t we know those men’s names three days later?... These are immigration cops. Unmask them.”

• He pledges the Save America Movement will expose “every one of these sons of bitches.”
• Rebukes media complicity and American institutional decay while warning of the dangers of unchecked power.

  “Not a single question asked... of what it is that Donald Trump believed until he sat down with three New York Times reporters about a month ago. And what he believes is that there are no restraints on his power.” (16:36)

4. International Context: Davos, Global Democracy, and Declining US Standing

• [22:06] Schmidt situates the crisis in the context of global stability, referencing the 81st anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, and the collective security legacy crafted by the US, UK, and Canada.
• He praises Canadian PM Mark Carney’s Davos speech repudiating Trumpism:

  “The world we live in was saved from an evil... The Canadian PM is the heir to a legacy...”
  “Mark Carney spoke to a world unbound by the UN Declaration of Human Rights... It is a poorer world... there is no people that will suffer more... than our children and grandchildren.” (22:06–27:34)

• Warns that American decline is visible to the world, risking economic collapse and loss of allies:

  “They see that the American people have stopped believing in the future of America. And the evidence is Trump.” (26:40)

5. Accountability and the Shape of Political Renewal

• [27:55] McGowan references Bill Clinton’s statement on the gravity of this moment.
• [29:16] Schmidt calls for coalition-building and the emergence of a new generation of Democratic leaders—highlighting Shapiro, Pritzker, and Newsom:

  “I want to see... Democratic governors must meet... they should open up grand jury investigations... sign interstate compacts... use every power they have to obstruct... Every lawful strategy... to hinder the federal government is what is necessary.”

• Issues a stark message to states enabling fascism:

  “You want to break the bonds of our affection in our union in the name of Trump, going to pay the price... California and New York... hold the power in this country economically, not the old Confederate states...” (34:57)

6. The Necessity of Consequences & Lasting Reform

• [41:52] McGowan and Schmidt discuss the historical failures to hold the South accountable post-Confederacy, arguing that true unity requires truth and justice, invoking the “never again” lessons of Germany.
• [42:07] Schmidt on restoring American credibility and security:

  “China is a more stable country than the United States... Donald Trump has functionally destroyed NATO... Every single one of these people will spend the rest of their lives being investigated and afraid to go outside.”

• Calls for dismantling the post-9/11 security state:

  “The security state has to be disassembled... Homeland Security... has it made the country safer? It’s a knife to the carotid of the American people. It needs to go away.” (45:15)

7. Activism and the Moral Imperative to Resist

• [47:34] Schmidt urges Americans to bear witness and resist, no matter the cost:

  “You see an ICE agent, you film them... Save America movement has cameras on these guys on a constant basis. Do not be afraid... Alex Preddy lost his life. Renee Goode lost her life. Like Medgar Evers...”
  “When an American is gunned down by this regime, 10 more will stand up and take their place...”

• Insists on the necessity of “laying down on the tracks in the face of this evil” (48:08) and promises the movement’s commitment to fighting, both in the US and internationally.

8. Concluding Call to Action & Hope

• [52:02] Schmidt repeats his central message:

  “What I want everyone who’s listening to know is you’re not alone. And do not be afraid… There are things worth everything. Our freedom or liberty is more important than being afraid...”

• Ends with a moving invocation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s mountaintop speech:

  “He tells us he may not get there with us... but that place, I believe with every fiber of my being, exists... We will not lose our country to these fascists... because of the courage of people like you, Lee McGowan.” (54:05–57:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:33] “Our inheritance is being stolen from us by gangsters.” — Steve Schmidt
• [14:14] “Being fierce is the American thing to do. Live free or die is the American thing to do. Give me liberty or give me death is the American thing to do. How dare these people? How fucking dare they?” — Steve Schmidt
• [29:16] “You are a leader of the opposition, Lee... We are all leaders of the opposition... What we’re waiting for is for a national leader to emerge to bring the country together.” — Steve Schmidt
• [47:34] “You see an ICE agent, you film them... Do not be afraid.” — Steve Schmidt
• [54:05] “Martin Luther King tells us... he has seen the promised land... We may not get there... but maybe their children will... We the people will not lose our country to these fascists. We will not.” — Steve Schmidt

Suggested Actions & Resources

• [52:02] Save America Movement:

  “thesaveamericamovement.org... follow [us] on Substack at The Warning... all social media channels.”

• Final Message: “You’re not alone. Do not be afraid... Our freedom or liberty is more important than being afraid.” — Steve Schmidt

Timeline of Key Segments

• [00:43–02:00] Setting the scene: Alex Preddy’s murder, context of the current crisis
• [02:33–06:43] Schmidt on the “awakening,” historical legacy, and the danger of the current administration
• [06:43–12:56] Failures of both parties, demand for leadership, specific legislative tactics
• [12:56–17:57] Fierceness over civility, unmasking state violence, the importance of opposition strategy
• [22:06–27:55] International context, NATO, global reputation, Mark Carney’s speech
• [29:16–35:47] Democratic leadership, empowerment of states, holding opposition states accountable
• [41:52–46:54] Discussion of accountability, national healing, security state critique
• [47:34–52:02] Moral imperative for activism, honoring sacrifice
• [52:02–57:18] Call to action, King’s legacy, hope and unity

Tone & Language

• Passionate, urgent, and mournful.
• Direct, sometimes profane (“How fucking dare they?”), refusing euphemism or softening.
• Emphasizes moral clarity and historical perspective, interwoven with appeals to courage, memory, and transformative action.

Conclusion

This episode is a rallying cry for clear-eyed moral resistance, structural reform, and unyielding accountability in the face of advancing authoritarianism. Both McGowan and Schmidt stress that this is a time for fierce, informed action—not despair. They urge listeners to use every available means, from state legislative power to street-level activism and documentation, to defend democracy, dignity, and the promise of America.