“Amen” back at you! I do not know how you and Sophia do all that you do with such a young family. As demanding a job as I had when my son was your son’s age, and my husband travelled, I remember getting literally no sleep and I didn’t have to save the country at the same time. But here you both are!
You both are amazing and I’m so grateful for all that you are both doing, as well as your example of exceptional and compassionate leadership. Words cannot even begin to express my appreciation. Stay safe! 🙏
I am the only Democrat in my family. I am grateful whenever a person leaves MAGA. I understand that we are living in a time when people don’t trust news media. It seems like there are two (or more) parallel streams of society and we get stuck in what feels good to us at the time and the algorithms keep sucking us in. That’s why I love SubStack. But MAGA has their media first.
100% NO judgement from me. As a moderate Republican - like Adam - with friends who have voted for DT 3x.... I'm a Never Trumper since 2016. We have a Big Tent in this Alliance for Democracy. Thank you Mr. and Mrs Doilez for your courage and for your patriotism.
Yeah George…Kamala IS better. Sounds like you are still a little unaware of how deeply you have been lied to by the Republicans. I say this being a lifelong Republican! We were so taught that any liberal was evil and stupid. I listen to every single speech Kamala gave and she was nothing but gracious, intelligent, reasonable, and fit for the job. I challenge you to go back and listen to her speeches and then tell me that you think she was unqualified or not a sufficient candidate to lead us! I am so embarrassed that I was so gullible to believe that the left were all horrible people. I now understand I am moderate, not conservative. I have left the Republican Party and will never vote for another Republican as long as I live because of how they have betrayed us by not standing up and protecting us from this crazy mad man in office. They are shameful congress people who only care about their power and who can be bullied by Donald Trump. Pathetic! I am so sorry for what happened to you but it is the consequence we are now living with because people chose to trust a liar, con man, criminal, insurrectionist, traitor. I’m glad you have seen the light.
Very well said, thank you! It is unbelievable that people voted for a convicted felon, who gleefully boasted about assaulting women. Kamala Harris has a stellar bio. She conducted herself with dignity and grace, yet people voted for a convicted felon, who cheated people his entire life. How they can blame anything on Kamala Harris clearly shows their lack of understanding of integrity and how politics works. There was nothing wrong with how Kamala Harris got the nomination. She was voted in by the DNC. People prefer to blame her instead of holding accountable a convicted felon, liar, fraud, tax evader, etc., whose bio continues to grow by the day... add pedophile protector to his list. Everybody knew he was a dictator before he ever ran for office... he mocked and threw out legitimate media, encouraging violence against them. If they knew anything about the constitution, they knew that was dangerous... if they didn't know anything about the constitution... precisely why we are fighting for our democracy today.
Wow, another beautiful summary of my thoughts after listening to just part of the interview with this couple. I was too appalled at the "Cat Kamala" comment (and seeing Adam actually chuckle when the comment was made, love the work he's doing for the most part but that comment should have been challenged) to take anything else seriously. Kudos to all of you who listened to the entire interview and posted your thoughts afterwards. Thanks 👍🏽
I spent a few more minutes listening as I decided whether or not it was worth it only because I keep hearing the message that both sides need to start openly listening to one another (And by both sides I don't mean Democrat and Republican). I do get that perspective, but when the other "side" is going to resort to the uneducated name calling tactic that MAGA and their leader always resort to, I have close to zero tolerance. I might have felt differently if he would have attempted a well thought out and educated response for why he was not drawn to former Vice President Harris, but he didn't.
I share your frustration, although I don't know what "everybody" knew. I saw all this coming; I grew up around academics, intellectuals, humanitarians, & patriots who viewed the Constitution as sacrosanct. I learned about the Bill of Rights when I was 8, because I was taught it at home. I was taught to read, to investigate & verify, to question & confirm, how to search for information, & which sources to trust. And I'm grateful there will always be people who know vastly more than I do.
I love this interview because it reminds me that outside my blue bubble, Americans come from different backgrounds & due to their life experiences have a frame of reference that differs a great deal from mine. I am not going to judge anyone for acting on the information that is available to them, especially not people of good will. Obviously I wish the outcome of the election had been different. I wish DT had been prosecuted for the January 6th insurrection. Anyway, here we are now.
Kamala Harris is smart, driven, & accomplished. She would have been fine. She comes across to me as brusque in a way that's useful for a prosecutor. It's asking a lot from politicians for them to be "likable" (whatever that means) as well as capable. Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to campaign. It turns out this country is far more racist than I had previously realized...probably because I'm white.
ANY candidate interested in upholding the Constitution would have done a better job than the current cabal of rogue MAGAs who are systemically dismantling our country. The mainstream press is complicit in the current crisis. My guess is MAGA billionaires ultimately care more about what contributes to their wealth than they do about MAGA-distorted religion or white supremacy. For this reason, I believe boycotts & strikes will be effective forms of resistance.
Her burden to bear was the way that she got the 'nomination'...the Dems let us ALL down by sticking with Biden way beyond reason...I truly don't understand it.
Unfortunately, rather than announcing he wouldn't run again, Biden's staying in the race will stain his otherwise stellar legacy. And Kamala couldn't distance herself too far from Biden. The DNC made a terrible mistake and we are now paying for it. It's time the Democrats in power wake up and take an infusion of younger people into the planning and messaging to the people on the issues that matter most to the majority of Americans.
Thank you for your comment. You put down in writing exactly what I was thinking, but I did not have the composure or the grace to put it into writing the way you did. Honestly, I could not get myself to finish listening to the entire interview. Thank you again for your comment, it was actually a breath of fresh air after deciding to exit the interview.
He’s right. Trump is on a mission of total destruction for us. No decent climate, no fields, no workers, no food. No countries that will be willing to help us…
It is very important to realize, as bad as Trump is, there are people behind him like Steven Miller and and Russel Vought that make him look almost angelic in comparison.
Adam, many of us remember when George Bush II presented a comprehensive immigration reform package to Congress. If I recall, a majority of House Democrats supported it (not all, of course). The majority of Republicans did not. It would have deprived them of the demons they deliberately cultivated in order to stay in political power. Since that time, it's all been downhill. So I take issue with you when you claim Democrats have "ignored" this issue for too long.
Desperate people come to this country for desperate reasons. Ecosystems in Central America are collapsing. Unchecked dictatorships and narco-terrorists are making life hell for vast numbers of people. Who wouldn't want to come to America to get away from it and start again? Businesses hire people, legal and illegal, to do the jobs Americans won't take, and the hirees pay taxes, including Social Security taxes.
On top of these reasons, some real scoundrels also sneak in to take advantage of our enormous societal demand for, and often addiction to, narcotics. The coyotes take advantage of our political unwillingness to address immigration in more sensible ways. It's a multifaceted issue -- economic, ecological, legal, criminal and social. A great deal of it is our own fault. It cuts so many ways.
When Republicans start speaking about all facets of this complicated thing, I'll start paying attention. Until then, it's nothing but noise designed to frighten and distract, not solve.
I came to this country 27 years ago. As a Canadian I came (legally) for six months. I married an American in Detroit, we went back and forth about which country to live in always sticking to the "no longer than six months" rule. My spouse asked the Canadian gov't about getting a spousal visa so that I could add him to my Canadian healthcare and he could apply for employment. Canada said it would take nine months and, no, he could not be on my healthcare during that time nor could he work unless a company offered him a job. Shortly thereafter I went into a small INS office in Washington state, near where my spouse was living. It was an area that was heavy with migrant workers. I was the only English speaking person in the waiting room and, when I approached the desk and greeted the person behind the desk with my "midwestern" accent, my nice middle aged white face smiling, he smiled back and said "And what country are YOU from?" I said Canada and I asked about the rules around my staying in the US past the six months' limit. "Oh you can apply for change of status today," he beamed, "Would you like a temporary work permit until your green card comes through as well?"
And that was that, it was decided we would live in the US. I knew then and I know now that I was NOT typical of the people who came through that INS office. Not typical in how I looked and not typical in how I was treated. I've met people, even Canadians, who've had to return to Canada to apply and waited two or more years after marrying an American to get a green card. I've met people who fled terrible regimes who have been waiting years and years to have their cases heard. I've met born in the US brown people who have been hassled at the border long before Trump; it's just got a lot worse now. I've met people who've paid thousands of dollars to "immigration lawyers" because the rules are so danged complex for people from some countries.
When Vance and Trump stood up in the last election and spouted heinous, over the top lies about immigrants, about Haitians eating cats and dogs, when they held that disgusting rally in Madison Square Gardens and the majority of those who voted still voted for them anyway, that's when I knew that the US truly had lost its soul. I didn't need it happening to me to know the worst kind of liars when I heard them. Yes, everyone lies in one way or the other but lies that hurt some and privilege others are the road to damnation for a country. Adam would say both parties have participated, knowingly, in this but that doesn't let anyone off the hook for standing up now. It may already be too late but God I hope not.
Like probably millions of others, I never thought that the country would ever be so stupid as to re-elect this cretinous liar who stood there on TV and with mock seriousness claimed Haitians were eating cats and dogs. Like Kamala, I just laughed out loud. We passed a threshold in November -- so far below anything so many of us could ever imagine.
I disagree that it could happen with the Dems. BTW Kamala Harris was the Vice President for 4 years, a prosecuting attorney, CA Attorney General. She was over qualified compared to DJT
I appreciate hearing Jorge (George) and Esmeralda’s story. I understand that they fell for Trump’s hype and thought he was going to do all he was saying, so they voted for him. I think many voters who voted for Trump were perhaps not well informed or very politically informed. My husband and I knew early on during 2015 that Trump was a con man, liar and huckster. To us it was obvious. I think, Adam, you knew this as well. I have made some votes that I have regretted, too, so I can accept that this happens to others, too. There was a bipartisan immigration bill prior to the 2024 election that Trump torpedoed. Come on, Trump caused an insurrection in 2020 to try to steal the election! I still do not understand how people still chose to vote for Trump! It boggles my mind. And now he and his administration are turning our country into a dictatorship. This is not the country I grew up in.
You are so right! They voted for a convicted felon and criminal who attempted to over throw our government. MAGA believed a fraud, tax evader, liar, proud abuser of women, and now, pedophile protector, over the intelligence, character, and integrity in Kamala Harris. Why they would be attracted to the very type of person our parents taught us to avoid... the very type of person Jesus taught us to avoid... only they know.
Encouraging to hear that even folks with a MAGA mentality can see and revolt against the criminal behavior by ICE. I am sorry they went through that; it must have been terrifying. Racial profiling is wrong! Being treated as ‘guilty’ automatically by your own government is WRONG!
This piece is a really good case study of how some people are handling their FOMO moment. Your diplomatic handling of them is a great model for how we should receive these people who are realizing they've been victimized. It's not easy to get beyond the fairness issue working with MAGA brings up but the solidarity required to keep democracy requires it. Also, my hat is off to this couple for the courage they're showing to talk publicly.
I don’t care how they saw the light, just thrilled that they did. Welcome aboard all former MAGAs. Open arms from me!
Amen
“Amen” back at you! I do not know how you and Sophia do all that you do with such a young family. As demanding a job as I had when my son was your son’s age, and my husband travelled, I remember getting literally no sleep and I didn’t have to save the country at the same time. But here you both are!
You both are amazing and I’m so grateful for all that you are both doing, as well as your example of exceptional and compassionate leadership. Words cannot even begin to express my appreciation. Stay safe! 🙏
For sure
Really enjoyed this Adam ! Thank you!
Thank you! All three of you!
This some very good reporting!
POTUS plan to use this Presidency for money nothing else! Unfortunately it comes at the cost of migrants!
Most definitely 😈
Definitely respecting what we should! Agree Adam that is the first commandment!
Definitely keep talking until your story gets published!
These good people should have never been harassed at all!
Amen also back at you Adam!
This is amazing!
I am the only Democrat in my family. I am grateful whenever a person leaves MAGA. I understand that we are living in a time when people don’t trust news media. It seems like there are two (or more) parallel streams of society and we get stuck in what feels good to us at the time and the algorithms keep sucking us in. That’s why I love SubStack. But MAGA has their media first.
Profile in courage
100% NO judgement from me. As a moderate Republican - like Adam - with friends who have voted for DT 3x.... I'm a Never Trumper since 2016. We have a Big Tent in this Alliance for Democracy. Thank you Mr. and Mrs Doilez for your courage and for your patriotism.
Yeah George…Kamala IS better. Sounds like you are still a little unaware of how deeply you have been lied to by the Republicans. I say this being a lifelong Republican! We were so taught that any liberal was evil and stupid. I listen to every single speech Kamala gave and she was nothing but gracious, intelligent, reasonable, and fit for the job. I challenge you to go back and listen to her speeches and then tell me that you think she was unqualified or not a sufficient candidate to lead us! I am so embarrassed that I was so gullible to believe that the left were all horrible people. I now understand I am moderate, not conservative. I have left the Republican Party and will never vote for another Republican as long as I live because of how they have betrayed us by not standing up and protecting us from this crazy mad man in office. They are shameful congress people who only care about their power and who can be bullied by Donald Trump. Pathetic! I am so sorry for what happened to you but it is the consequence we are now living with because people chose to trust a liar, con man, criminal, insurrectionist, traitor. I’m glad you have seen the light.
Very well said, thank you! It is unbelievable that people voted for a convicted felon, who gleefully boasted about assaulting women. Kamala Harris has a stellar bio. She conducted herself with dignity and grace, yet people voted for a convicted felon, who cheated people his entire life. How they can blame anything on Kamala Harris clearly shows their lack of understanding of integrity and how politics works. There was nothing wrong with how Kamala Harris got the nomination. She was voted in by the DNC. People prefer to blame her instead of holding accountable a convicted felon, liar, fraud, tax evader, etc., whose bio continues to grow by the day... add pedophile protector to his list. Everybody knew he was a dictator before he ever ran for office... he mocked and threw out legitimate media, encouraging violence against them. If they knew anything about the constitution, they knew that was dangerous... if they didn't know anything about the constitution... precisely why we are fighting for our democracy today.
Wow, another beautiful summary of my thoughts after listening to just part of the interview with this couple. I was too appalled at the "Cat Kamala" comment (and seeing Adam actually chuckle when the comment was made, love the work he's doing for the most part but that comment should have been challenged) to take anything else seriously. Kudos to all of you who listened to the entire interview and posted your thoughts afterwards. Thanks 👍🏽
That is about the time I exited the video…
I spent a few more minutes listening as I decided whether or not it was worth it only because I keep hearing the message that both sides need to start openly listening to one another (And by both sides I don't mean Democrat and Republican). I do get that perspective, but when the other "side" is going to resort to the uneducated name calling tactic that MAGA and their leader always resort to, I have close to zero tolerance. I might have felt differently if he would have attempted a well thought out and educated response for why he was not drawn to former Vice President Harris, but he didn't.
I share your frustration, although I don't know what "everybody" knew. I saw all this coming; I grew up around academics, intellectuals, humanitarians, & patriots who viewed the Constitution as sacrosanct. I learned about the Bill of Rights when I was 8, because I was taught it at home. I was taught to read, to investigate & verify, to question & confirm, how to search for information, & which sources to trust. And I'm grateful there will always be people who know vastly more than I do.
I love this interview because it reminds me that outside my blue bubble, Americans come from different backgrounds & due to their life experiences have a frame of reference that differs a great deal from mine. I am not going to judge anyone for acting on the information that is available to them, especially not people of good will. Obviously I wish the outcome of the election had been different. I wish DT had been prosecuted for the January 6th insurrection. Anyway, here we are now.
Kamala Harris is smart, driven, & accomplished. She would have been fine. She comes across to me as brusque in a way that's useful for a prosecutor. It's asking a lot from politicians for them to be "likable" (whatever that means) as well as capable. Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to campaign. It turns out this country is far more racist than I had previously realized...probably because I'm white.
ANY candidate interested in upholding the Constitution would have done a better job than the current cabal of rogue MAGAs who are systemically dismantling our country. The mainstream press is complicit in the current crisis. My guess is MAGA billionaires ultimately care more about what contributes to their wealth than they do about MAGA-distorted religion or white supremacy. For this reason, I believe boycotts & strikes will be effective forms of resistance.
Her burden to bear was the way that she got the 'nomination'...the Dems let us ALL down by sticking with Biden way beyond reason...I truly don't understand it.
Unfortunately, rather than announcing he wouldn't run again, Biden's staying in the race will stain his otherwise stellar legacy. And Kamala couldn't distance herself too far from Biden. The DNC made a terrible mistake and we are now paying for it. It's time the Democrats in power wake up and take an infusion of younger people into the planning and messaging to the people on the issues that matter most to the majority of Americans.
Thank you for your comment. You put down in writing exactly what I was thinking, but I did not have the composure or the grace to put it into writing the way you did. Honestly, I could not get myself to finish listening to the entire interview. Thank you again for your comment, it was actually a breath of fresh air after deciding to exit the interview.
Totally agree with you! Well said!
He’s right. Trump is on a mission of total destruction for us. No decent climate, no fields, no workers, no food. No countries that will be willing to help us…
It is very important to realize, as bad as Trump is, there are people behind him like Steven Miller and and Russel Vought that make him look almost angelic in comparison.
Adam, many of us remember when George Bush II presented a comprehensive immigration reform package to Congress. If I recall, a majority of House Democrats supported it (not all, of course). The majority of Republicans did not. It would have deprived them of the demons they deliberately cultivated in order to stay in political power. Since that time, it's all been downhill. So I take issue with you when you claim Democrats have "ignored" this issue for too long.
Desperate people come to this country for desperate reasons. Ecosystems in Central America are collapsing. Unchecked dictatorships and narco-terrorists are making life hell for vast numbers of people. Who wouldn't want to come to America to get away from it and start again? Businesses hire people, legal and illegal, to do the jobs Americans won't take, and the hirees pay taxes, including Social Security taxes.
On top of these reasons, some real scoundrels also sneak in to take advantage of our enormous societal demand for, and often addiction to, narcotics. The coyotes take advantage of our political unwillingness to address immigration in more sensible ways. It's a multifaceted issue -- economic, ecological, legal, criminal and social. A great deal of it is our own fault. It cuts so many ways.
When Republicans start speaking about all facets of this complicated thing, I'll start paying attention. Until then, it's nothing but noise designed to frighten and distract, not solve.
I came to this country 27 years ago. As a Canadian I came (legally) for six months. I married an American in Detroit, we went back and forth about which country to live in always sticking to the "no longer than six months" rule. My spouse asked the Canadian gov't about getting a spousal visa so that I could add him to my Canadian healthcare and he could apply for employment. Canada said it would take nine months and, no, he could not be on my healthcare during that time nor could he work unless a company offered him a job. Shortly thereafter I went into a small INS office in Washington state, near where my spouse was living. It was an area that was heavy with migrant workers. I was the only English speaking person in the waiting room and, when I approached the desk and greeted the person behind the desk with my "midwestern" accent, my nice middle aged white face smiling, he smiled back and said "And what country are YOU from?" I said Canada and I asked about the rules around my staying in the US past the six months' limit. "Oh you can apply for change of status today," he beamed, "Would you like a temporary work permit until your green card comes through as well?"
And that was that, it was decided we would live in the US. I knew then and I know now that I was NOT typical of the people who came through that INS office. Not typical in how I looked and not typical in how I was treated. I've met people, even Canadians, who've had to return to Canada to apply and waited two or more years after marrying an American to get a green card. I've met people who fled terrible regimes who have been waiting years and years to have their cases heard. I've met born in the US brown people who have been hassled at the border long before Trump; it's just got a lot worse now. I've met people who've paid thousands of dollars to "immigration lawyers" because the rules are so danged complex for people from some countries.
When Vance and Trump stood up in the last election and spouted heinous, over the top lies about immigrants, about Haitians eating cats and dogs, when they held that disgusting rally in Madison Square Gardens and the majority of those who voted still voted for them anyway, that's when I knew that the US truly had lost its soul. I didn't need it happening to me to know the worst kind of liars when I heard them. Yes, everyone lies in one way or the other but lies that hurt some and privilege others are the road to damnation for a country. Adam would say both parties have participated, knowingly, in this but that doesn't let anyone off the hook for standing up now. It may already be too late but God I hope not.
Like probably millions of others, I never thought that the country would ever be so stupid as to re-elect this cretinous liar who stood there on TV and with mock seriousness claimed Haitians were eating cats and dogs. Like Kamala, I just laughed out loud. We passed a threshold in November -- so far below anything so many of us could ever imagine.
Well-said.
I disagree that it could happen with the Dems. BTW Kamala Harris was the Vice President for 4 years, a prosecuting attorney, CA Attorney General. She was over qualified compared to DJT
Mr and Mrs Doilez i would love to have you as my neighbors. Trump is an exceptional con man and cult leader.
Yes nice people.
I appreciate hearing Jorge (George) and Esmeralda’s story. I understand that they fell for Trump’s hype and thought he was going to do all he was saying, so they voted for him. I think many voters who voted for Trump were perhaps not well informed or very politically informed. My husband and I knew early on during 2015 that Trump was a con man, liar and huckster. To us it was obvious. I think, Adam, you knew this as well. I have made some votes that I have regretted, too, so I can accept that this happens to others, too. There was a bipartisan immigration bill prior to the 2024 election that Trump torpedoed. Come on, Trump caused an insurrection in 2020 to try to steal the election! I still do not understand how people still chose to vote for Trump! It boggles my mind. And now he and his administration are turning our country into a dictatorship. This is not the country I grew up in.
You are so right! They voted for a convicted felon and criminal who attempted to over throw our government. MAGA believed a fraud, tax evader, liar, proud abuser of women, and now, pedophile protector, over the intelligence, character, and integrity in Kamala Harris. Why they would be attracted to the very type of person our parents taught us to avoid... the very type of person Jesus taught us to avoid... only they know.
Welcome to the resistance
Glad you shared this keep up the great work Adam!
This is an excellent interview from people who know firsthand!! It’s all terrifying, and people need to open their eyes to the truth.
George and Esmeralda, You are amazing.
Encouraging to hear that even folks with a MAGA mentality can see and revolt against the criminal behavior by ICE. I am sorry they went through that; it must have been terrifying. Racial profiling is wrong! Being treated as ‘guilty’ automatically by your own government is WRONG!
Welcome to Nazi Germany in the 30's with Hitler's Gestapo = todays trumps goon squad of ICE! Wake Up America!
This piece is a really good case study of how some people are handling their FOMO moment. Your diplomatic handling of them is a great model for how we should receive these people who are realizing they've been victimized. It's not easy to get beyond the fairness issue working with MAGA brings up but the solidarity required to keep democracy requires it. Also, my hat is off to this couple for the courage they're showing to talk publicly.
Trump is not the Savior. He is the Test.
Adam
Thank you
You are so wise