Ilhan Omar's Raid, the Mother of All Bombs, and a Week of Authoritarian Moves

Federal agents raided Rep. Ilhan Omar's home weeks before the election, and it fits a pattern as old as fascism itself: targeting political opponents. Tina Marie and Martina trace that playbook from Mussolini and Putin to today, explain what the "presumption of regularity" is and why judges say this DOJ has lost it, and break down Trump waiving the Graham Act Russia sanctions. Plus: the Katie Zacharia jokes, the mother of all bombs, and five free audiobooks. 🌴 Resist with Joy Podcast | Episode 22 | October 18, 2026 "Resist with Joy" amplifies the voices of everyday people and empowers listeners to engage, show up, and become the policy shapers of tomorrow. This week: Road to Fascism on targeting political opponents, the raid on Ilhan Omar's home, less than half a Scaramucci, Epstein survivors and the yellow jacket, the MOAB and spheres of influence, Trump abandoning Ukraine, No Kings and pro-democracy media, and a WTF America audiobook giveaway. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome and mermaid hair 1:29 Road to Fascism: targeting political opponents through history 6:03 How today's administration targets its critics 9:20 The raid on Ilhan Omar's home 15:25 Less than half a Scaramucci: the Katie Zacharia jokes 17:50 Epstein survivors and the yellow jacket 19:18 The mother of all bombs and spheres of influence 25:20 Trump waives Russia sanctions and abandons Ukraine 28:36 No Kings, pro-democracy media, and getting uncomfortable 33:16 WTF America audiobook giveaway and wrap-up 🔗 SHOW NOTES & LINKS 🗳️ General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Vote early and make a plan to return your ballot. 🔎 WSJ: The Ilhan Omar investigation aims to build a case for stripping her citizenship https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/ilhan-omar-investigation-aims-to-build-case-for-stripping-her-citizenship-6adf1edc 📱 MS NOW: Federal agents seized Ilhan Omar's phone and laptop in D.C. home search https://www.ms.now/news/federal-agents-seized-ilhan-omars-phone-laptop-in-d-c-home-search 📣 Others calling the Omar raid fascist, not just us https://www.instagram.com/p/DegCMmRxcGZ/ 💣 BBC (2017): The first and only combat use of the MOAB, in Afghanistan https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39598046 💣 Latest on Trump floating the MOAB for Iran https://www.instagram.com/p/DeiVzoVmltK/ 🎬 CNN clip: Epstein survivor Dani Bensky meets a three-time Trump voter on the Epstein files bus tour https://youtu.be/JS7Qw0\_G7ys 🧠 Presumption of regularity: the courtroom default that the government acts in good faith, which judges increasingly say this administration has lost 📰 Media and Democracy Project, 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines (read them and add your name) https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/2026-election-guidelines 📚 WTF America: The Way Out of This Hell and Back to Democracy by Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ben-meiselas/wtf-america/9781538787175/?lens=grand-central-publishing 🎧 MeidasTouch Network https://www.meidastouch.com 🎁 Audiobook giveaway: leave a comment on this episode for a chance at one of five free copies of WTF America 💬 BEFORE YOU GO | Take our Visionaire Questionaire Five questions about what concerns you, what gives you hope, and what joy looks like for you right now: https://form.jotform.com/261597829396074 🎙️ ABOUT RESIST WITH JOY Resist with Joy is a podcast about civic education, grassroots organizing, and joyful resistance. Real voices, including engaged citizens, experts, and politicians, to help build the wall against authoritarianism, one joyful action at a time. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe | Like | Share | Leave us a review MEET THE TEAM Co-Hosts: Martina Wing and Tina Marie Even Editor: Savannah Maira Producers: Martina Wing, Tina Marie Even, Savannah Maira Sponsored by: VegaBlast https://vegablast.com 🎵 MUSIC "Pacific Time" by Blue Dot Sessions Source: https://bluedotsessions.bandcamp.com/track/pacific-time License: CC BY-NC 4.0 🌴 Aloha until next time. #ResistWithJoy #Hawaii #Indivisible #IlhanOmar #RoadToFascism #Midterms2026 #NoKings #Ukraine #KatieZacharia #WTFAmerica #MeidasTouch #Democracy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit resistwithjoypodcast.substack.com