Democracy Now! Audio Democracy Now! 2026-01-28 Wednesday
11 snips
Jan 28, 2026 
Jen Budd, a former U.S. Border Patrol senior patrol agent turned immigrant rights activist. Delia Ramirez, a U.S. Congressmember pushing to abolish ICE and impeach DHS leadership. Drew Harwell, a Washington Post technology reporter covering DHS recruitment and image manipulation. They discuss ICE wartime recruitment plans, white supremacist-linked recruiting imagery, digital alteration of government photos, Border Patrol culture, and calls for accountability.
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Militarized Recruitment Strategy
- ICE plans a $100 million recruitment campaign aimed at gun-rights and military audiences using geo-targeting and influencer ads.
- The ads use wartime, jingoistic imagery and sometimes echo white supremacist memes to attract militant recruits.
Recruitment Messaging Mirrors Extremist Memes
- DHS recruitment messaging borrows visuals and slogans familiar in far-right online spaces, suggesting overlap in language and aesthetics.
- The pattern suggests government messaging may be courting audiences sympathetic to extremist motifs, not merely coincidental imagery.
Question Altered Official Images
- Scrutinize altered government images and demand transparency when official accounts publish manipulated photos.
- Hold agencies accountable because such edits can mislead the public about arrests and incidents.
