“Terrorist”: How ICE Weaponized 9/11’s Scarlet Letter

The Intercept Briefing is a podcast that discusses current events, politics, and social issues. In this episode, the hosts discuss the growing concern of ICE becoming a "death squad" and the potential for an authoritarian takeover by Donald Trump.

The conversation begins with a discussion about the recent court orders being ignored by ICE officials and the appointment of MAGA loyalists to federal law enforcement agencies. The hosts also touch on the lack of press freedom in covering Trump's actions and the impact on democracy.

Spencer Neumann, one of the hosts, shares his concerns about the direction of the country and the role of journalism in holding those in power accountable. He emphasizes the importance of expanding The Intercept's reporting capacity to effectively cover the growing crisis.

The conversation also turns to the challenges faced by journalists and the need for growth in terms of resources and personnel. Neumann highlights the devastating year for journalism, citing Trump's contempt for truth and the corporate media's complicity in covering up his actions.

Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize the importance of press freedom, accountability, and the need for The Intercept to grow and expand its reporting capacity to effectively cover the growing crisis.

The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to support The Intercept's mission and help the organization expand its reporting capabilities.

I'm telling you, this is getting serious . ICE becoming a death squad? That's like something out of a movie . And Trump's behind all of it? No wonder he's trying to shut down The Intercept . I mean, can't they just investigate what's going on without having to play politics? It's like journalists are getting bullied into silence . We need more people speaking truth to power and less corporate media covering up for Trump . If we want press freedom, we gotta support The Intercept and other organizations that are fighting the good fight .

omg i'm literally shaken thinking about what's happening in the US it feels like we're living in some kind of dystopian novel where the government is slowly taking away our freedoms and press freedom is basically non-existent i mean don't get me wrong, Trump has been doing some questionable things but this death squad talk is just crazy talk ICE officials ignoring court orders? that's just a huge red flag and I'm low-key worried about the future of journalism too it's like we're losing our watchdogs and it's up to smaller orgs like The Intercept to keep holding those in power accountable so yeah, please support them if you can!

omg i'm so done with the current state of journalism they're literally talking about ICE becoming a death squad?? like what even is that?! and don't even get me started on trump's ego trip to the white house... it's like, hello accountability? anyway i think The Intercept is doing a great job in exposing all this stuff, but they need more resources & personnel stat i mean, can you imagine having to cover all these crazy events without any support? we should totally be supporting their mission & helping them grow!

I'm so worried about what's going on in this country , especially with ICE becoming like a death squad . It's insane that they're just ignoring court orders left and right , and Trump is still pushing for his authoritarian agenda . And can we talk about the state of journalism? it's like, totally under attack . I mean, how much more truth can one guy's lies take before someone speaks up?! The Intercept seems to be one of the only ones trying to hold him accountable , but they need more resources and support to do their job effectively .

I'm all for press freedom and a free press, you know? but right now it feels like we're living in a dystopian novel . The Intercept's call to action is much needed , I hope people can rally around them and support their mission . We need more journalists and organizations like theirs to speak truth to power . Otherwise, how are we gonna hold our leaders accountable?

I'm really worried about what's going on with our country right now . It feels like we're losing touch with the truth and journalists are getting silenced left and right. I mean, if ICE is basically a "death squad" (which sounds super scary) and Trump is just ignoring all these court orders... how can we trust anyone in power?

And it's not just that, it feels like corporations and media outlets are more interested in covering up Trump's mess than telling the truth. I'm so tired of hearing about fake news when the real issue is the lack of press freedom. We need more voices speaking out against this authoritarian stuff before we lose everything we're supposed to be fighting for

Supporting The Intercept makes sense, they seem like one of the few places still trying to hold Trump accountable and give a voice to those who need it most. I'm definitely going to start donating!

[Image of a cartoon character with a megaphone, looking worried]

ICE = "I Can't Even" squad

[ GIF of a journalist trying to hold back tears ]

Journalists: the real MVPs

[ Picture of a person holding a sign that says "Truth Matters"]

The Intercept = truth squad

I'm still thinking about what Spencer said about the state of journalism... it feels like we're at a breaking point where outlets like The Intercept are really holding up a mirror to our society . But can one podcast really make a difference? I mean, I love that they're pushing back against ICE's actions and highlighting Trump's track record on truth . We need more voices like this in the mix, but it's tough when corporate media seems so complicit in covering up his antics . Still, as long as people are listening and demanding change, I'm optimistic that we can create some real momentum for reform . But what about the journalists themselves? Are they getting the support they need to keep doing their jobs without sacrificing their integrity?

I'm low-key freaking out about this podcast tho ... like, can't we just have a functioning democracy around here? It's crazy that ICE is basically becoming a death squad and nobody's doing anything about it . And Trump's just sitting there, tweeting away, completely disregarding the truth . It's so messed up that journalists are struggling to do their job without resources or support . I feel like we need more voices like The Intercept trying to hold people in power accountable . We gotta support them and keep pushing for press freedom and accountability!

I'm kinda worried about where we're headed as a country, you know? It feels like we're losing the press as our watchdogs and that's super concerning for democracy. And with all these MAGA folks taking over, it's hard to trust anyone anymore... but at the same time, journalism needs some serious help if we wanna keep it real . The Intercept is doing some awesome work, but they need more resources to cover all this crazy stuff going on. It's like, we gotta stand up for press freedom and hold those in power accountable or else what's next?

I'm so done with all this drama ... I mean, an "authoritarian takeover" by Trump? It sounds like some crazy conspiracy theory . But seriously, it's scary when you think about how ICE is basically being run by people who are loyal only to MAGA and ignoring court orders. And don't even get me started on the lack of press freedom - it's like they're trying to silence the truth .

I'm all for The Intercept expanding its reporting capacity, but we need more than just a bigger team to fix this problem . We need a fundamental shift in how journalism works and how people consume news. I mean, have you noticed how often you see those same headlines in every single outlet? It's like the media is just regurgitating whatever Trump says without questioning it .

Anyway, I'm definitely going to check out The Intercept's podcast and support their mission if I can . But we need more than just a few voices in the wilderness to make a difference... we need a movement !

omg this is getting serious i mean i've been saying it for years but now even ppl like spencer neumann are talkin about ICE becoming a death squad lol what's next? we gotta support organizations like The Intercept that hold our leaders accountable, journalism isn't just a luxury anymore, its a necessity

the US is at a critical juncture ... I think it's alarming that ICE is being perceived as a "death squad" and Trump's potential authoritarian takeover is being discussed seriously . the erosion of press freedom in covering Trump's actions is a major concern for me, as it undermines the very foundation of democracy . The Intercept's role in holding those in power accountable is crucial in this situation ... I'd love to see them expand their reporting capacity to effectively cover the growing crisis and hold ICE officials accountable . the challenges faced by journalists are real, and we need more resources and personnel to support them . supporting The Intercept's mission would be a great way for us to amplify the voices of investigative journalists

I'm getting really worried about what's going on in our country, but at the same time, I think there are so many of us who are speaking out and working towards positive change . We need more people like The Intercept and journalists like Spencer Neumann who aren't afraid to hold those in power accountable . And I love how they're encouraging listeners to support their mission - every little bit counts! If we can come together as a community to demand better press freedom and accountability, I truly believe we can create real change and build a more just society for everyone .

ICE becoming a "death squad" is a highly concerning trend that warrants closer scrutiny . The appointment of MAGA loyalists in federal law enforcement agencies raises serious questions about the erosion of civil liberties and the potential for authoritarianism to take hold . It's essential to prioritize press freedom, as independent journalism is crucial in holding those in power accountable for their actions .

The Intercept is a vital platform that provides in-depth analysis on pressing issues, but it needs significant resources to effectively cover this crisis . The hosts are right to emphasize the need for growth and expansion of its reporting capacity . As a society, we must support organizations like The Intercept by providing them with the necessary funding and personnel to continue their critical work .

The devastating year for journalism is a stark reminder of the importance of a free press in a democratic society . It's crucial that we prioritize the safety and well-being of journalists who are willing to risk everything to hold those in power accountable .

I'm getting so worried about our country right now... it feels like we're living in a dystopian novel where the government is basically above the law. I mean, ICE becoming a "death squad" is just insane, how can we let this happen? And what's with all these MAGA loyalists getting appointed to federal law enforcement agencies? It's like they're more interested in serving Trump than keeping America safe. The lack of press freedom is just ridiculous too... I feel like we're losing our voice as a society and it's all because of this "free speech" myth that's just not holding up anymore.

I love how Spencer Neumann is speaking out about the importance of journalism and expanding The Intercept's reporting capacity. We need more people like him who are willing to call out the truth and hold those in power accountable! But at the same time, it's heartbreaking to think about all the journalists who've lost their jobs or been intimidated because they're telling the truth. It's just devastating. Can we please support The Intercept and other independent news orgs? They're the only ones keeping us informed right now...

omg u guys this is sooo serious i dont think we should be taking ICE's actions lightly, like theyre basically turning into a death squad it cant be right that theyre ignoring court orders left and right and just doing whatever trump tells them to do its getting to the point where journalists are being silenced and their work is being covered up by the corporate media lol what even is happening to our country i think The Intercept is trying to do something right by speaking out against this but we need to support them in every way possible, like donating or spreading the word

omg u guys i was just talking to my aunt about this exact thing! she's super worried that trump is gonna try and take over the country again anyway back to the podcast i think they're right on the money spencer makes so much sense about the journalism industry it's like we need more people reporting on these stuffs so we can all stay informed but u know what's really wild? my cousin's sister dated a federal agent and he told her about all the weird stuff that goes down in the ice office lol anyway gotta support The Intercept tho they're doing some great work