EPISODE · Jan 20, 2026 · 56 MIN
An Insane President and an ICE Assault. What Do We Do Now?
from Beyond Politics · host Matt Robison
Matt is joined by Ryan McConaghy — former policy director for Senate Democrats — for a deep, insider breakdown on what can actually be done to rein in President Trump’s escalating behavior and ICE’s aggressive new actions.We’ll explore what’s possible, practical, and politically smart when it comes to pushback from Congress, the courts, the cabinet, and the public — including whether the 25th Amendment, cabinet pressure, or congressional oversight could ever work in real life. We’ll also discuss Trump’s bizarre Greenland episode, his recent public behavior, and what history and constitutional law say about presidential capacity and removal.This conversation builds on Matt’s latest article on Worth Knowing: “Can Anything Be Done to Rein In This President?” ➜ https://worthknowing.substack.com/p/can-anything-be-done-to-rein-in-thisTopics We Cover:✔ How Congress can (or can’t) check the presidency✔ Why cabinet action is almost impossible — but not unthinkable✔ What the 25th Amendment actually requires✔ What ICE’s recent moves signal about power and federal enforcement✔ What’s politically viable for Democrats✔ What voters should watch for leading into 2026 and 2028✔ How policy positioning really works behind closed doors00:00 Introduction and Platforms00:16 The Importance of Awareness and Outrage01:06 Breaking Down the Issues01:17 ICE Abuses and Public Misinformation02:59 Decision-Making Challenges for the Coalition03:46 Debating Strategies to Reign in ICE05:07 The 25th Amendment and Trump's Cognitive Decline07:05 Democrats' Strategic Dilemmas10:54 Funding ICE and Legislative Nuances25:16 Local vs. Federal Actions31:08 Discussing the 25th Amendment32:22 Political Strategy and Affordability34:08 Staying on Target: Democratic Focus37:01 The Democratic Party's Internal Debate38:11 Midterm Election Strategies48:33 Speculations and Predictions53:47 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell
What this episode covers
Matt is joined by Ryan McConaghy — former policy director for Senate Democrats — for a deep, insider breakdown on what can actually be done to rein in President Trump’s escalating behavior and ICE’s aggressive new actions.We’ll explore what’s possible, practical, and politically smart when it comes to pushback from Congress, the courts, the cabinet, and the public — including whether the 25th Amendment, cabinet pressure, or congressional oversight could ever work in real life. We’ll also discuss Trump’s bizarre Greenland episode, his recent public behavior, and what history and constitutional law say about presidential capacity and removal.This conversation builds on Matt’s latest article on Worth Knowing: “Can Anything Be Done to Rein In This President?” ➜ https://worthknowing.substack.com/p/can-anything-be-done-to-rein-in-thisTopics We Cover:✔ How Congress can (or can’t) check the presidency✔ Why cabinet action is almost impossible — but not unthinkable✔ What the 25th Amendment actually requires✔ What ICE’s recent moves signal about power and federal enforcement✔ What’s politically viable for Democrats✔ What voters should watch for leading into 2026 and 2028✔ How policy positioning really works behind closed doors00:00 Introduction and Platforms00:16 The Importance of Awareness and Outrage01:06 Breaking Down the Issues01:17 ICE Abuses and Public Misinformation02:59 Decision-Making Challenges for the Coalition03:46 Debating Strategies to Reign in ICE05:07 The 25th Amendment and Trump's Cognitive Decline07:05 Democrats' Strategic Dilemmas10:54 Funding ICE and Legislative Nuances25:16 Local vs. Federal Actions31:08 Discussing the 25th Amendment32:22 Political Strategy and Affordability34:08 Staying on Target: Democratic Focus37:01 The Democratic Party's Internal Debate38:11 Midterm Election Strategies48:33 Speculations and Predictions53:47 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell
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An Insane President and an ICE Assault. What Do We Do Now?
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