C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Open Forum dives into ICE’s Minnesota chaos, where Judge Patrick Schiltz threatens contempt over bond delays and Trump orders agent withdrawals amid calls for Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam’s impeachment. Callers clash—Richard (Independent) blames systemic food industry monopolies and court failures, Pete (Republican) warns of U.S.-Iran war risks tied to Netanyahu’s influence, while Bruce (Independent) dismisses police mask mandates and criticizes inconsistent terrorism labels. Democrat Alexander Vidman enters Florida’s Senate race, leveraging his 2021 Trump testimony and accusing Noam’s ally, Senator Ashley Moody, of stock-trading corruption. Democrats push for ICE guardrails in funding bills, but Republicans like Susan Collins defend non-immigration priorities, risking shutdowns. The segment underscores deepening partisan distrust over law enforcement, accountability, and national security. [Automatically generated summary]
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Washington Journal continues, we are back in open forum here this morning.
Any public policy or political issue on your mind responding to the news this morning as well.
So start dialing in Democrats, 2027 8000.
Republicans, 2027, 88001 and independents, 2027488002.
Here's a headline to share with you this morning from the Washington POST, U.s judge orders ICE chief to appear in court and threatens contempt ruling.
Here from the Washington POST reporting Minnesota chief Cheddar federal judge has demanded that the acting head of the U.s Immigration AND Customs Enforcement personally appear in court friday to explain what the judge described as repeated failures to comply with dozens of court orders amid its enforcement efforts in the state.
The court's patience is at an end.
U.s district judge Patrick Schiltz wrote in a remarkable filing late monday summoning acting ICE director Toddlence to his courtroom.
The judge threatened possible contempt proceedings against Leons over several instances in which Schultz said the agency failed to grant detained immigrants bond hearings that had been ordered by judges in Minneapolis.
That is the latest on ICE actions in Minnesota.
As we told you earlier, president Trump has uh decided to remove ICE agents from Minnesota starting today.
He has sent his border czar, Tom Homan, to sit down and have meetings with the officials in Minnesota.
The president, speaking to the governor, Tim Wells yesterday Democrat, along with the Democratic mayor, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Fry, and decided to take those actions after those phone calls.
Also, the headlines today indicating the rhetoric has changed from the White House as well.
You can respond to that news in the papers and, and and any other news as well Richard, in Staten Island AND Independent.
We'll hear from you first, Richard.
unidentified
Good morning hi, good morning.
Thank you for taking my call.
Uh, I just wanted to pass along two comments.
The two young ladies that you had spoke about competing in the marketplace.
Well, I mean, I've heard that my whole life.
You know, 75 to 70 to 80, they spoke about competing, and that's been the running phrase.
But only four families or four companies owned 85% of the entire freaking food industry.
So there is no competition.
And the other thing I wanted to say was that the court system is failing because there is nobody to hold these people accountable.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen threaten new attacks as U.S. aircraft carriers arrive.
This is out of Dubai.
Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast are signaling their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back Iran, as officials acknowledged the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier to the region Monday.
President Trump ordered the carriers to move to the Middle East as he threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests.
Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Monday hinted they were ready to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
That came just after Iraq's paramilitary group, long supported by Iran's paramilitary revolutionary guard, issued a direct threat late Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a total war in the region would be a result.
Bruce in Woodbury, New York, and Independent.
Bruce.
unidentified
Hey, morning.
I just wanted to make two quick points.
I'm retired from the New York City Police Department after 30 years.
And I can tell you, in all my time on patrol or dealing with other police officers and supervisors, none of my guys have ever felt the need to wear a mask.
And to me, it's just unconscionable.
You know, we work in some pretty hairy situations.
And the other point I wanted to make was as far as what happened to Mr. Predty, I mean, wasn't it Donald Trump who paid reparations to Ashley Babbitt's family, who was, you know, the old saying, play stupid families won stupid prizes.
So that's kind of what I was.
And the last point I want to make, and I apologize, is, you know, the DHS and White House are very quick to call out what they call domestic terrorists.
But how many people, how many of the people in the White House call the gentleman who sets fire to the synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, who confess to it, a domestic terrorist?
That's my point, and I appreciate you taking your time.
In news this morning, Axios.com reporting, Alexander Vidman announces Florida Senate campaign as a Democrat.
He's the former National Security Council official who testified against President Trump during his first impeachment trial, and he's running to be the Democratic nominee in Florida's Senate race.
Vidman's entry into the Senate race gives Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, another high-profile candidate to try and force Republicans to spend heavily to defend a seat.
He is seeking to challenge Senator Ashley Moody, who was appointed to fill Secretary of State Marco Rubio's seat early last year when he joined the Trump administration.
Here is Mr. Vinman announcing his campaign as a Democrat.
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a National Security Council official who testified against the president during the impeachment hearings, has been fired.
Jim, the president has been fuming about Vindman apparently ever since he testified.
Alexander Vindman, who testified against President Trump in the impeachment trial, announcing he is running for the Florida Senate seat.
Axios notes that when his brother, Eugene Vedman, announced his run for Congress, he then quickly emerged as a fundraising juggernaut, pulling in $800,000 in his first 24 hours.
He went on to win his Virginia congressional race in 2024 and continued to post strong numbers and announced a total of 7 million in his first year in office.
Back to calls.
Kelvin in Georgia, Democratic caller.
Kelvin, what in the news today is making you call in?
unidentified
What's making me call in is a suggestion that I have for the whole country.
The Republicans have the White House, the Senate, and the House.
Once the Democrats take back the House, the Senate, and the White House, Republicans should never, ever be coming to power again, ever.
They should actually be extinct from Congress.
And that's my opinion.
Because I've been watching the news all my life.
My father used to make me sit down and watch the news.
Sal in New York, a Republican with his thoughts on what we're seeing in ICE by ICE in Minnesota.
And as he mentioned, the president has decided to start removing ICE agents today in Minnesota.
3,000 were sent to the state after a phone call with Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fride, both Democrats.
The president said that they would make that change.
He also sent Tom Holman, the Borders Are, to Minnesota.
He had a meeting yesterday requested by Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam for two hours in the Oval Office with the Secretary along with her top aide, Corey Lewandowski.
According to the New York Times, it was requested by Ms. Noam and they met for two hours.
There's also headlines today saying calls for impeaching Christy Noam have increased and eight more Democrats have signed on to articles of impeachment against her.
Punch Bowl News say that she was sidelined by the president and instead sent Tom Holman to Minnesota instead of her to be the face of what happens next in that state.
Related to that, the political this morning, politico.com, capital agenda, no shutdown deal in sight.
Democrats are demanding changes to the DHS funding bill and Republicans are reluctant to engage.
Senators are scrambling to avoid a partial government shutdown later this week after Saturday's fatal shooting of Alex Predty by a federal agent has members of both parties debating what guardrails they can place on President Trump's immigration enforcement agenda and there's no deal in sight.
Today, senators gather in Washington to begin debate on the immigration funding bill.
That's money for the Homeland Security Department.
Immigration customs and enforcement falls under the department.
Democrats in the Senate appear united in opposition to funding the agency unless there are changes to their actions.
Take a listen to California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla.
California Democrat Senator Alex Padilla yesterday on opposition to the Homeland Security funding bill.
Now, Susan Collins, who's a Republican from Maine and the chair of the Appropriations Committee on the Senate floor yesterday, encouraging her colleagues to support the full funding package.
The tragic death of Alex Petri has refocused attention on the Homeland Security Bill, and I recognize that and share the concerns.
I do want to point out to my colleagues that there are many safeguards that have been put in this bill that I would encourage them to review, and that the vast majority of the funding in this bill, more than 80%, is for non-immigration and non-border security functions.
It includes, for example, funding for FEMA.
We've just gone through a horrific storm that has caused a lot of damage.
And FEMA is very important.
It includes funding for TSA.
Those of us who travel back and forth through our home states every weekend are well aware of the work of TSA in keeping us safe.
It includes funding for cybersecurity and physical infrastructure protection.
And important to the states of the presiding officer in the state of Maine, it includes funding for the U.S. Coast Guard.
So, Madam President, I know that there will be many more speeches and discussions of all of the bills that are included in this package.
But let me just say that I hope we can come together in a constructive way to get this done and to ensure that we do not lurch into a dangerous and detrimental government shutdown.
Senator Susan Collins on the Senate floor yesterday.
Her colleagues returned to Washington today.
Tune in to C-SPAN 2's gavel-to-gavel coverage of the U.S. Senate as they turn their attention to a spending measure for the Homeland Security Department.
Mike in South Dakota, Independent, we're an open forum this morning.
The two young people you had on earlier in your panel, you know, I guess if I'm going to listen to somebody about economics, I'd like to have somebody that's been around a few decades telling me what is going on.
But the main thing is supply and demand.
When Joe Biden let 20 million illegals into the country, the demand for groceries went up.
So less groceries, higher prices.
Housing, same thing.
Some of these taxes, gas prices are down.
South Dakota, we're around 225, 235.
Depends upon what part of the city you're in.
But you look at that, it doesn't cost any more to get that gas to South Dakota as it does to California.
Yet California, half of that price of a gallon of gas is taxes.
Then I heard him talking about some nonprofit insurance company out there.
I worked in insurance for 20-plus years.
They are for profit.
So why would you give tax breaks to an insurance company that is collecting Obamacare money?
Whoever did that, well, thank God they're not in office anymore, but something needs to be done and it has to be fixed.
But once we can get rid of another 10 million illegals, it might take a couple of years, but the prices will go down.
Happening over on C-SPAN2 this morning, live coverage of the National Transportation Safety Board holding a meeting on that mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people in January of last year.
Board members will vote on the probable cause and safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes in the future.
Happening right now on C-SPAN 2 is our live coverage.
You can also watch on c-span.org as well as C-SPAN Now, our free video mobile app.
Also, to let you know at 3 p.m. Eastern Time, Maryland will hold here in Maryland.
One of the state committees will hold a hearing on congressional redistricting.
That's the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee happening in Annapolis today at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
And you can watch that on C-SPAN 3, C-SPANNOW, and C-SPAN.org.
Crystal in Yuma, Colorado, Republican.
Good morning.
unidentified
Good morning.
I would like to say that I'm retired.
When my Social Security goes up, my Medicare goes up.
So therefore, we don't get a raise.
I've been Republican forever, and I believe in Trump and what he's doing.
Okay, Crystal, you'll be able to watch The President as well everybody else right here on C-SPAN.
Live coverage at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Download our free video mobile app, C-SPAN Now, if you can't watch your television or online on demand at c-span.org.
Up next, Bradford Fitch, former CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation and author of the book, Citizens Handbook for Influencing Elected Officials.
He'll join us to talk about practical and effective strategies on how to get through to your elected officials.
Stay with us.
We'll be right back.
unidentified
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He's the author of Citizens Handbook for Influencing Elected Officials.
Mr. Fitch, in 2010, your first appearance on the Washington Journal for the first edition of your book, you said that Americans have more influence over their elected officials than they realize.
The book is in two parts, and the second edition is twice the size, and all the changes came in the second part, which is about how to influence them.
Congress, in terms of how it interacts with constituents, hasn't changed that much in terms of what motivates them, what influences them.
And I realize this is a bit of a counter argument from what people see, but the challenge is that most people don't see most of what the Congress does because you see the big debates over taxes and immigration and abortion and sometimes health care.
Most members of Congress are meeting with constituents to determine whether or not to increase funding for research on Alzheimer's or whether horses should be transported on double-decker trucks.
unidentified
We are going to lead this here to keep our over 45-year commitment to live gabble-to-gabble coverage of Congress.
The U.S. House is meeting today for what we expect to be a brief session.