The New Liberal Podcast How should Democrats talk about ICE? ft. Matt Yglesias
24 snips
Jan 16, 2026 
Matt Yglesias, a progressive policy commentator and co-founder of Vox, dives deep into the controversial actions of ICE in Minnesota and beyond. He discusses how Democrats can effectively address public disapproval of ICE while shaping a humane immigration policy. Yglesias emphasizes the need for balance between compassion and enforcement, critiques the current asylum system, and suggests practical reforms. He also explores political messaging strategies for Democrats to regain credibility, emphasizing connections with veterans and the importance of addressing affordability.
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Legal Pathways Require Credible Enforcement
- You can't credibly support legal migration while refusing all interior enforcement.
- Sustainable legal pathways require the ability to enforce visa terms and sometimes deport people.
Fix Abuses By Changing Practice Not Slogans
- Stop ICE abuses by simply not doing them and reassigning resources back to core priorities like counterterrorism.
- Reverse the Trump-era diversion of investigators into immigration and restore normal agency focus.
Abuses Stem From Direct Orders And Sloppy Hiring
- Many abuses in Minnesota and elsewhere reflect direct White House directives and sloppiness in hiring.
- Stopping those directives and poor hires would immediately reduce the worst behavior.
