Conspirituality

294: ICE Resistance

February 5, 2026

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  • The MAGA propaganda machine actively dehumanizes ICE protest victims (Renee Goode and Alex Pretty) and demands loyalists reject empirical evidence of state violence, leading to predictable partisan division on accountability. 
  • The current political crisis surrounding ICE actions is provoking a predictable spectrum of religious revivalism, ranging from explicit white Christian nationalism (e.g., Joshua Hames) to radical liberation theology and calls for martyrdom. 
  • Community organizers in Portland, like PDX ICE Watch, are employing aggressive counter-surveillance tactics against ICE and CBP agents, blurring the lines between official duties and private life in response to perceived authoritarian occupation. 

Segments

ICE Violence Statistics and Political Tipping Point
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(00:02:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Three deaths in ICE custody in 2025, including the high-profile murders of Renee Goode and Alex Pretty, have been ruled homicides, though no charges have been filed.
  • Summary: Thirty-two people died in ICE custody in 2025, with eight additional people shot and killed by ICE or CBP. The medical examiner ruled the deaths of Goode, Pretty, and Geraldo Campos as homicides. The hosts question whether these escalating stakes might force defections from pro-democracy coalitions or lead to street warfare.
MAGA Dehumanization and Propaganda
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(00:05:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Right-wing media and officials immediately framed the deaths of Goode and Pretty as self-defense or premeditated massacre, using identity politics to dehumanize the victims.
  • Summary: Fox News’ Jesse Waters smeared Renee Goode by highlighting her identity (poet, lesbian, pronouns in bio) rather than her death, mirroring rhetoric used by ‘Libs of TikTok.’ Influencers spread misinformation claiming Alex Pretty was an armed communist soldier intending a massacre. This narrative aligns with the Orwellian demand that loyalists reject the evidence of their own eyes and ears.
Conspiracy Theories on Protest Funding
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(00:10:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Trump allies propagate conspiracy theories suggesting ICE protesters are paid agitators, exemplified by J.D. Vance questioning who pays for the bricks thrown at agents.
  • Summary: The narrative suggests protesters are funded by outside forces, sometimes linking it indirectly to the Somali daycare fraud cases as a pretext for ICE actions. This conspiracy theory dismisses the resourcefulness of ordinary citizens providing water or supplies to demonstrators. The hosts mockingly highlight the absurdity of questioning who paid for a $17 Costco run for protesters.
Womanosphere Rejects Empathy
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(00:11:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Prominent anti-trans activist Riley Gaines and others in the ‘womanosphere’ urged followers to reject the ‘sin of empathy’ regarding ICE actions.
  • Summary: Riley Gaines thanked ICE for taking a child, Liam Ramos, whose father was allegedly arrested by ICE, despite eyewitness accounts contradicting the narrative. Allie Beth Stuckey, author of Toxic Empathy, claimed anti-ICE propaganda relies on emotionally evocative images to dupe Christian women. Other influencers suggested reducing the risk of being shot by ICE by being a stay-at-home wife.
Yoga Leaders’ Anti-ICE Stance Critique
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(00:14:13)
  • Key Takeaway: While supporting anti-ICE activism from prominent yoga leaders, the hosts critique the use of ancient Indian religious texts that historically supported caste systems to justify modern progressive social justice politics.
  • Summary: The hosts find it hollow to cite texts like the Bhagavad Gita, which were not critical of existing power structures, as a basis for contemporary anti-ICE activism. They note the historical contradiction, including the text’s use by fascists like Himmler. A more honest approach involves acknowledging the texts’ flaws while actively repurposing them for social justice.
Christian Responses: Extremism vs. Obedience
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(00:23:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Religious culture responds to fascism across a spectrum, from pro-fascist blessing of state violence to liberal appeals for moderation, and radical calls for revolutionary action.
  • Summary: Joshua Hames, a white Christian nationalist podcaster, explicitly called for an immigration moratorium based on Christianity being the core of national identity, echoing fascist concepts of ’living space.’ Conversely, some evangelicals misuse Romans 13 to argue for absolute obedience to ICE, claiming Jesus was a rule-follower executed by the state. Bishop Barron of Winona criticized Mayor Mamdani’s use of ‘collectivism’ but offered only a ‘both sides’ plea regarding the Minneapolis murders.
Religious Resistance and Martyrdom
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(00:30:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Some religious leaders are explicitly invoking the language of martyrdom and liberation theology in response to state violence, drawing parallels to 1980s Latin American assassinations.
  • Summary: Episcopalian Bishop Hirschfeld instructed priests to make up their wills, stating the time of martyrdom was ’nigh,’ referencing assassinated liberation theologians like Bishop Romero. In contrast to charismatic influencers, Hirschfeld’s straightforward, administrative tone lent weight to his warning. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s journey shows how political crisis can force liberal clergy to abandon apathy and engage in resistance.
Nonviolence and Armed Protection History
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(00:41:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Historical analysis suggests that the effectiveness of nonviolent direct action during the Civil Rights Movement often relied on the disciplined, armed protection provided by groups like the Deacons for Defense and Justice.
  • Summary: James Cobb’s research indicates that armed groups provided escorts and fortified homes, signaling a willingness to defend against white supremacist terrorism, which paradoxically enabled nonviolent participation to rise. MLK Jr.’s parsonage reportedly contained an arsenal known to local police and the Klan. The hosts debate whether today’s resistance, currently nonviolent, will adopt this full-spectrum approach.
Portland Protests and Counter-Surveillance
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(00:46:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Portland protesters are facing escalating chemical agent deployment by ICE, prompting the city government to sue federal agencies while local activists engage in direct counter-surveillance of agents.
  • Summary: NBC News reported Oregon was next on Trump’s list for escalated ICE operations, leading to increased confrontations where ICE agents deployed tear gas and flash bangs against unarmed marchers. PDX ICE Watch tracks agents leaving facilities, films them, and identifies their vehicles, arguing that anonymity must be stripped from agents enforcing what they view as an invading force. The activists justify this by comparing agents to Hitler, arguing anonymity is inappropriate for those causing massive community harm.