Episode 54: Resistance — From Local Action to National Pushback

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ICE’s expansion has fueled unprecedented resistance across the country. In this episode, Bella Goode traces how communities, courts, and coalitions are fighting back—from shutting down Alligator Alcatraz in Florida, to months-long protests in Portland, to a small-town uprising in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania. What emerges is a movement that proves resistance can win—whether in court rulings, workplace walkouts, or grassroots solidarity. This is the conclusion of our six-part series on ICE, and a reminder that collective courage can redraw the boundaries of what’s possible.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• How lawsuits by tribes, environmentalists, and immigrant advocates shut down Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” detention project
• Why Portland and Seattle became symbols of urban resistance, linking direct action to measurable drops in ICE arrests
• The rise of workplace defense networks in New Jersey and sanctuary protections in New York as part of regional pushback
• Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania’s unlikely uprising: locals and immigrants uniting against GEO’s secretive detention center
• The death of detainee Chao Feng Ji and how his story galvanized a movement for accountability
• How grassroots resistance forced congressional debates, court challenges, and the introduction of the bipartisan Dignity Act of 2025

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Center for Biological Diversity
• Friends of the Everglades
• The GEO Group
• Miccosukee
• Seminole 
• Moshannon Valley Processing Center
• Henry M. Jackson Federal Building
• Alligator Alcatraz

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Bella Goode is a pseudonym — but the voice, research, and mission are all real. A Republican turned Democrat advocate in 2016, I was raised by middle class parents in Pennsylvania. I’m a former marketing executive, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner with an MBA from Wharton and a Master’s in Psychology from Penn. I spent decades telling stories in the business world; now I use those skills to connect the dots in American politics.

I’m here because the truth matters — and because the stakes have never been higher. Surviving Trump isn’t lighthearted. It’s clarity, evidence, and a fight for the future of our democracy.

Follow my blog on Substack bellagoodepodcast.substack.com