September 26, 2025 • 7 mins
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) talks about Democrats fighting the Trump administration, and her own battle after she was indicated for assaulting police officers at an immigration facility in New Jersey.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
I'm Vanessa Tyler, reporting at the Congressional Black Caucuses fifty
fourth Annual Legislative Conference on the Black Information Network, your
home for Black News First. New Jersey is a blue
state for now and hoping to keep it that way.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Is congress Woman Lamonica mc ivor.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Congresswoman Welcome, Thank you, Thank you so much for having me,
and such a pleasure to be here with you all today.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Let's start with ripping right out of the headlines your
reaction to FBIX FBI director Comy being indicted.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, you know, I've tried to get into this, you know,
matter for myself of not being surprised when this administration,
the Trump administration, does outrageous things, because that's every hour
on the hour sometimes. But once again, it's just a
reflection of how cruel chaotic this administration is and how
this president is using his presidency and you know, the
(00:56):
DOJ to do his dirty work and his political hate
for and so that's what we're seeing with these new charges.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You're not surprised because suddenly you know first.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Hand absolutely as you know, I have been indicted by
Trump's Department of Justice as well with three felony counts
and facing seventeen years in prison for showing up to
do my job, and.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
That, of course, for people who don't remember, your job
was to basically investigate and see what was going on
with the holding location for the migrants.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Correct, we showed up to a place called the Laney
Hall and my district to conduct an oversight visit. Me
and two of my New Jersey colleagues. This is something
that we've done before in the past at another facility
in New Jersey and we were met with confrontation, chaos
in order to try to do our job.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
So this is a result of that.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
And certainly the mayor of Newark of Ross Baraka was arrested.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Yes, yep, arrested, charges were fout against him and later dropped.
You know, this is once again everything that this administration
does is based in cruelty. Anytime you push back against
their hateful policies, you criticize them, this is what you
have to look forward to.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Wow, well, all eyes are certainly going to be on
New Jersey, one of the states in our country that
will be having a statewide race for governor.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Talk about that. In the likelihood.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
New Jersey is blue, but it kind of got a
little red well, you know.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, well they call it purple. It's a little purple ish.
After the last election that we had when I was elected,
literally we saw some districts flip that we would not
have expected to flip to red. And so I think
that you know, Trump has said and even many of
his you know, I want to say his cult have
said that they would love to turn New Jersey red.
(02:48):
And so I think that they're highly focused on trying
to get Jack to win this election. But we are
fighting hard. We are definitely fighting for Mikey Cheryl to
win this election. We're working hard, and you know, the
numbers are close. You know, you wouldn't think that, you know,
all of the polling that it's coming out. It's unbelievable
to see how close they are. But still we're pushing forward.
(03:10):
I mean, we have to get Mikey Chryl elected in
New Jersey as our next governor. I mean, we we
are fighting back against this administration each and every day.
We have a democratic governor right now, a g who's
been pushing back, filing lawsuits, fighting for what Congress has
already designated to these states and New Jersey for different
(03:31):
funding and different things that we have there, and so
we have to make sure that we can continue that.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Yeah, because as you mentioned, Jack Chidabrelli is the Republican
in this race and he's Trump endorsed. Yes, so we
can certainly have MAGA there in New Jersey. Of course,
New Jersey is the home of a lot of President
Trump's golf courses.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
He loves, he loves to come there company.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
New Jersey is an interesting state because it is a
state of really too you know stories the rich. A
lot of wealthy people live in New Jersey and they're
very poor.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
What are some of the needs that you see.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
There in the state and how are they going to
be addressed with these cuts?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Well, first of all, thank you for bringing that up.
We have a huge wealth gap in New Jersey and
I represent New Jersey's tenth congressional district, which is the
least wealthiest district in New Jersey. And some of these
cuts and things that we see happening, they're going to
mean life or death for the people that I represent.
When you talk about taking people off of healthcare, taking
away snap benefits for them to be able to afford
(04:34):
to put food on the table, that is going to
be a problem look, I came to Congress to get more.
I served on the North City Council and as the
council president, you know, for a co combination of seven years,
so I know locally what some of the needs are.
And so that is why I came to Congress, to
be able to get more for the constituents that I represent,
let alone I get here in surprise. We're fighting for
(04:57):
the little crumbs that we have, and so at the
end of the day day, you know, we have to
push forward. People are having so many affordability issues. I mean,
to find an affordable place to live in an apartment,
to be a home owner. It seems distant these days
to just be able to buy groceries that are high,
you know, for healthcare. These are the things that people
(05:18):
in my district, in New Jersey as a whole, are
facing each and every day. It's too expensive to live
here in America, and we have to do something about that.
You know. It's those kitchen table issues that we really
need to be cracking down on.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
And making people's lives better.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
And a Congress, in a Republican led leadership, they're not
focused on that.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
The question that is really looming over this entire conference.
We are made for this moment. What are lawmakers going
to do? What's the game plan after we leave here
this weekend?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Yeah? Well, I mean for me, I wouldn't say that
I have a blueprint in my pocket up here, but
I think for me as a leader speaking you know, personally,
we have to continue to push back. We have to
continue to stand up and do our job. That is
why the situation has happeneding with me. Look, it's not
just about me. This is about our democracy, about our constitute,
the constitutional crisis that this president and his you know,
(06:17):
GOP leadership have put us in. And I think we
have to continue to stand up, do our jobs and
don't flinch on that. Like. We cannot flinch in this moment,
like and so that is what we have to keep doing.
But at the same time, we have to have a
game plan put together on how we are going to
deliver the things that the people in this country need.
And so it's a we need a project twenty twenty
(06:38):
six and a Project twenty twenty eight for the American
people that are actually going to work for them that's
going to make their lives better.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And so that is what I'm really looking forward to
and pushing forward to to make happen.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah Project twenty twenty six because maybe people will read
that one.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
You are terrific. Thank you so much to congress Woman,
Thank youg Iver. I'm Vanessa Tyler reporting at the Congressional
Black HAWKUS fifty fourth Legislative Conference for the Black Information Network,
your home for black news First
I'm Vanessa Tyler, reporting at the Congressional Black Caucuses fifty
fourth Annual Legislative Conference on the Black Information Network, your
home for Black News First. New Jersey is a blue
state for now and hoping to keep it that way.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Is congress Woman Lamonica mc ivor.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Congresswoman Welcome, Thank you, Thank you so much for having me,
and such a pleasure to be here with you all today.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Let's start with ripping right out of the headlines your
reaction to FBIX FBI director Comy being indicted.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, you know, I've tried to get into this, you know,
matter for myself of not being surprised when this administration,
the Trump administration, does outrageous things, because that's every hour
on the hour sometimes. But once again, it's just a
reflection of how cruel chaotic this administration is and how
this president is using his presidency and you know, the
(00:56):
DOJ to do his dirty work and his political hate
for and so that's what we're seeing with these new charges.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You're not surprised because suddenly you know first.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Hand absolutely as you know, I have been indicted by
Trump's Department of Justice as well with three felony counts
and facing seventeen years in prison for showing up to
do my job, and.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
That, of course, for people who don't remember, your job
was to basically investigate and see what was going on
with the holding location for the migrants.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Correct, we showed up to a place called the Laney
Hall and my district to conduct an oversight visit. Me
and two of my New Jersey colleagues. This is something
that we've done before in the past at another facility
in New Jersey and we were met with confrontation, chaos
in order to try to do our job.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
So this is a result of that.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
And certainly the mayor of Newark of Ross Baraka was arrested.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Yes, yep, arrested, charges were fout against him and later dropped.
You know, this is once again everything that this administration
does is based in cruelty. Anytime you push back against
their hateful policies, you criticize them, this is what you
have to look forward to.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Wow, well, all eyes are certainly going to be on
New Jersey, one of the states in our country that
will be having a statewide race for governor.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Talk about that. In the likelihood.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
New Jersey is blue, but it kind of got a
little red well, you know.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, well they call it purple. It's a little purple ish.
After the last election that we had when I was elected,
literally we saw some districts flip that we would not
have expected to flip to red. And so I think
that you know, Trump has said and even many of
his you know, I want to say his cult have
said that they would love to turn New Jersey red.
(02:48):
And so I think that they're highly focused on trying
to get Jack to win this election. But we are
fighting hard. We are definitely fighting for Mikey Cheryl to
win this election. We're working hard, and you know, the
numbers are close. You know, you wouldn't think that, you know,
all of the polling that it's coming out. It's unbelievable
to see how close they are. But still we're pushing forward.
(03:10):
I mean, we have to get Mikey Chryl elected in
New Jersey as our next governor. I mean, we we
are fighting back against this administration each and every day.
We have a democratic governor right now, a g who's
been pushing back, filing lawsuits, fighting for what Congress has
already designated to these states and New Jersey for different
(03:31):
funding and different things that we have there, and so
we have to make sure that we can continue that.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Yeah, because as you mentioned, Jack Chidabrelli is the Republican
in this race and he's Trump endorsed. Yes, so we
can certainly have MAGA there in New Jersey. Of course,
New Jersey is the home of a lot of President
Trump's golf courses.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
He loves, he loves to come there company.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
New Jersey is an interesting state because it is a
state of really too you know stories the rich. A
lot of wealthy people live in New Jersey and they're
very poor.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
What are some of the needs that you see.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
There in the state and how are they going to
be addressed with these cuts?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Well, first of all, thank you for bringing that up.
We have a huge wealth gap in New Jersey and
I represent New Jersey's tenth congressional district, which is the
least wealthiest district in New Jersey. And some of these
cuts and things that we see happening, they're going to
mean life or death for the people that I represent.
When you talk about taking people off of healthcare, taking
away snap benefits for them to be able to afford
(04:34):
to put food on the table, that is going to
be a problem look, I came to Congress to get more.
I served on the North City Council and as the
council president, you know, for a co combination of seven years,
so I know locally what some of the needs are.
And so that is why I came to Congress, to
be able to get more for the constituents that I represent,
let alone I get here in surprise. We're fighting for
(04:57):
the little crumbs that we have, and so at the
end of the day day, you know, we have to
push forward. People are having so many affordability issues. I mean,
to find an affordable place to live in an apartment,
to be a home owner. It seems distant these days
to just be able to buy groceries that are high,
you know, for healthcare. These are the things that people
(05:18):
in my district, in New Jersey as a whole, are
facing each and every day. It's too expensive to live
here in America, and we have to do something about that.
You know. It's those kitchen table issues that we really
need to be cracking down on.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
And making people's lives better.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
And a Congress, in a Republican led leadership, they're not
focused on that.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
The question that is really looming over this entire conference.
We are made for this moment. What are lawmakers going
to do? What's the game plan after we leave here
this weekend?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Yeah? Well, I mean for me, I wouldn't say that
I have a blueprint in my pocket up here, but
I think for me as a leader speaking you know, personally,
we have to continue to push back. We have to
continue to stand up and do our job. That is
why the situation has happeneding with me. Look, it's not
just about me. This is about our democracy, about our constitute,
the constitutional crisis that this president and his you know,
(06:17):
GOP leadership have put us in. And I think we
have to continue to stand up, do our jobs and
don't flinch on that. Like. We cannot flinch in this moment,
like and so that is what we have to keep doing.
But at the same time, we have to have a
game plan put together on how we are going to
deliver the things that the people in this country need.
And so it's a we need a project twenty twenty
(06:38):
six and a Project twenty twenty eight for the American
people that are actually going to work for them that's
going to make their lives better.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And so that is what I'm really looking forward to
and pushing forward to to make happen.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah Project twenty twenty six because maybe people will read
that one.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
You are terrific. Thank you so much to congress Woman,
Thank youg Iver. I'm Vanessa Tyler reporting at the Congressional
Black HAWKUS fifty fourth Legislative Conference for the Black Information Network,
your home for black news First
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