The Brian Lehrer Show Brian Lehrer Weekend: The New ICE, Waymos in NYC, Why Have Youth Sports Gotten so Intense
Aug 30, 2025
Nick Miroff, a staff writer at The Atlantic specializing in immigration, discusses the bold shifts in ICE dynamics under the Biden administration, focusing on the agency's new aggressive tactics and increased funding. Transportation journalist Stephen Nesson dives into Waymo's testing of driverless cars in NYC, exploring safety and job implications for drivers and residents alike. Meanwhile, Anna North, a senior correspondent at Vox, tackles the commercialization of youth sports, highlighting the intense pressures and rising costs affecting young athletes and their families.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ICE's New Public, Political Posture
- ICE under the Trump administration is shifting from quiet, criminal-focused enforcement to highly public, politically driven operations.
- Political appointees prioritize optics and mass recruitment to deliver on deportation promises.
From Low Profile To Loud Branding
- Career ICE officers traditionally worked in plain clothes and low profile to avoid backlash and protect operations.
- New leadership favors flashy branding, marked vehicles, and social-media recruitment to assert presence.
Mass Funding To Supercharge ICE
- Congress allotted roughly $75 billion for ICE expansion, nearly ten times its annual budget.
- Funds target detention expansion and a rapid hiring spree to more than double deportation officers.