Vice President JD Vance’s defense of an ICE officer who killed a mother in Minnesota is a textbook example of fascist rhetoric designed to make Americans disbelieve the truth that is clearly evident in video video of the shooting, Today in Ohio podcast hosts said Friday.
The episode opened with host Chris Quinn framing the discussion in stark terms: “Laura, a true mark of fascism is political leaders who convince you to deny what your own eyes and ears tell you. Just like many MAGA Republicans have attempted involving the January 6th insurrection sparked by Donald Trump.”
Laura Johnston immediately connected Vance’s rhetoric to George Orwell’s dystopian classic: “Yeah, absolutely. This is where you start quoting George Orwell in 1984, which is the party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. And that’s what we’re being told and that’s what JD Vance is parroting.”
The podcast discussed the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three who had just dropped off her 6-year-old at school when she was fatally shot by ICE agents. Despite clear video evidence showing Good posed no threat, Vance claimed she was “terrorizing ICE officers” and that the agent acted in self-defense.
Quinn implored listeners to ignore everything they might read or hear and just watch the video. It shows without a doubt that the office was under absolutely no threat and killed Good anyway. Quinn said Vance’s lies about it set him apart.
“JD Vance is about the most despicable politician to ever come from Ohio,” Quinn said. “There’s no lie he won’t tell. “
The hosts said Vance’s defense of the indefensible is part of a growing pattern where political leaders ask followers to disbelieve objective reality in favor of partisan narratives, to tow the party line in defiance of the truth.
Johnston noted that Trump’s administration has created a culture of impunity around immigration enforcement, describing the ICE agents as “Trump’s secret police” who are “coming in unmarked cars, wearing street clothes and face masks and they’re cold blooded murdering American citizens in the street in front of dozens of witnesses and cameras.”
Quinn sees a historical parallel.
“This is Gestapo from Germany in America on our streets killing innocent people.,” he said, noting that Good was just a mom on her daily rounds. “When you see the picture of the open door with all the little stuffed animals in the car, it’s soul crushing. They killed this mom of a six year old dropping her kid off for no reason other than they can get away with it.”
Listen to the discussion here.
Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.