Guests - Mary Ann Mendoza, John Gordon, Stephen Mundt
Honoring Angel Families: A Conversation with Mary Ann Mendoza
In a poignant discussion, Kathleen Winn speaks with Mary Ann Mendoza, an angel mom from Mesa, Arizona, whose son, Brandon Mendoza, was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant in 2014. Mendoza shares the story of her son, a dedicated Mesa police officer who embodied service and community spirit. Brandon knew from a young age that he wanted to be a police officer, avoiding trouble throughout his youth to stay on that path. He joined the force early and was assigned to the Guerrero Lindsay Park area in Southwest Mesa, a neighborhood overrun by drug dealers and homelessness.
Mendoza recounts how Brandon transformed the area as a modern-day beat cop, knocking on doors, introducing himself, and uniting the community. His efforts led to the park's cleanup, and today, the ball field there bears his name—Mendoza Ball Field—with his badge and number on a security camera overlooking it, symbolizing his promise to watch over the children. "He just was an amazing cop, an amazing son, an amazing uncle, brother, grandson," Mendoza says. "Everybody who knew him loved him."
The tragedy struck on May 12, 2014, when an illegal immigrant, three times the legal limit for alcohol and high on meth, drove over 35 miles the wrong way on the freeway and collided head-on with Brandon at 104 miles per hour as he headed home from his shift. Brandon was only 32, having served 13 years on the force, and was posthumously promoted to sergeant. Mendoza emphasizes the commonality among angel families: loved ones lost due to crimes by individuals in the country illegally, with no regard for boundaries or laws.
Mendoza distinguishes angel families from gold star families, explaining that angel families are those who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants. "America ignores the fact that we exist," she notes. "And President Trump kind of forces people to see us, to acknowledge us and to say that, you know, we do exist and this is a problem in our country." She highlights how President Trump has embraced these families, declaring February 22nd as Angel Family Day during an event at the White House.
At the White House gathering, attended by about 30 angel families—totaling 150 to 200 people—Mendoza describes a supportive atmosphere with figures like Tom Homan and Kristi Noem present, mingling and acknowledging their grief. "It was really a nice acknowledgement because I think too much attention is given to the people who protest against ICE, who protest against Kristi Noem, who protest against Trump," Mendoza states. She contrasts the thousands of victims of illegal immigrant crimes with the few protesters who insert themselves into dangerous situations.
Mendoza criticizes media focus on division and rhetoric, insisting that angel families are not racist or xenophobic but upset about law-breaking that costs lives. "I don't care what your skin color is. I don't care what your religion is. I don't care what your background is. You broke the law and your character speaks volumes," she asserts. She recalls writing to President Obama after her son's death and later joining a panel with then-candidate Trump in 2016, noting Trump's consistent support.
Sharing stories from other families, Mendoza mentions Laken Riley's family, a wife who defended herself after her husband's murder, and others like Marla Wolf, whose FBI agent husband Carlos was killed aiding a stranded motorist. She speaks of Jackie from Florida, struggling financially after losing her military veteran husband, leaving her with young children. Mendoza calls for redirecting funds from organizations supporting illegal immigrants to victim families, directing donations to the American Border Story or her organization, Angel Moms and Angel Families.
Reflecting on the event, Mendoza appreciates how the Trump administration forces America to acknowledge angel families' pain. "We finally have a president. We have an administration. The whole administration treats us with such kindness and such respect, and they understand our pain," she says. She notes these crimes span the nation, not just border states, and urges support for law enforcement pursuing criminals with records, like the one who killed her son after fleeing charges in Colorado.
Election Integrity and Political Insights: Insights from John Gordon
Kathleen Winn engages with John Gordon, a legal analyst, entrepreneur, and former candidate for Georgia Attorney General, on election irregularities and the upcoming midterms. Gordon emphasizes the need for election reform in swing states like Georgia and Arizona. He details his involvement in a three-year case supporting Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue against the Fulton County Board of Elections, citing evidence of fraud including ballot harvesting, fake electors from UPS stores and homeless shelters, votes from dead people, and unrequested absentee ballots.
"Georgia was stolen by an absolute huge amount of illegal, fraudulent votes," Gordon asserts. He describes voters being turned away at polls after being told they had already voted absentee, despite no such action. He criticizes Democrats for labeling voter ID as suppression while requiring it for mundane tasks like shoveling snow in New York or boarding planes. "The Democrats can't win in a competition for ideas. And they are just overtly telling us, yeah, we're going to cheat," he says.
Gordon highlights FBI Agent Hugh Evans' affidavits noting the need for physical ballots to distinguish administrative errors from intentional fraud. He points to withheld ballots in Arizona by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and pristine, unfolded ballots marked for Biden in Georgia. Security footage from State Farm Arena shows a tabulator operator running the same stack of ballots 32 times in an election decided by 11,779 votes.
Comparing Arizona's issues, Gordon notes similar fraud claims, including Navajo Nation voters claiming credit for dual-state voting and Fox News prematurely calling the state for Biden in 2020. He discusses Georgia's gubernatorial race, criticizing Chris Carr and Brad Raffensperger while praising Burt Jones and noting billionaire Rick Johnson's entry as a self-proclaimed Trump loyalist.
Gordon hosts "The Truth with John Gordon," syndicated on weekends. Previewing Trump's State of the Union, he believes Trump will succeed by focusing on achievements in economy and immigration, despite polling challenges. He advocates a nuanced deportation approach: converting COVID vaccine centers into registration sites, giving illegal immigrants six months to register. Recent arrivals with minor infractions face deportation, while long-term law-abiders might receive incentives to self-deport or temporary status.
"It's not working. So we've got to try something else," Gordon says, addressing backlash from ICE raids exploited by provocateurs. He clarifies no sympathy for criminals like those killing law enforcement, proposing public punishment, but humane treatment for others, excluding voting or social services. He notes labor shortages in agriculture and construction, suggesting vetted reentry for sponsored workers.
In Arizona, Gordon acknowledges harder stances due to cartel infiltration but stresses distinguishing cases. He praises Trump's unprecedented actions and predicts a strong address highlighting positives like tax reforms and energy production.
Previewing the State of the Union and Global Challenges: Dialogue with Steven Mundt
Kathleen Winn discusses the State of the Union and international affairs with retired Brigadier General Steven Mundt. Mundt notes Trump's approval ratings align with historical mid-second-term figures, attributing dips to immigration perceptions. He criticizes Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Ruben Gallego for boycotting, contrasting with Mark Kelly's attendance, possibly tied to election cycles.
Mundt argues Democrats lack a positive agenda, only defining themselves against Trump. "Can any one of them tell me what they're for?" he asks. He expects Trump to address economy, tax cuts (no tax on tips or overtime, increased standard deductions), energy production lowering costs, and drug price reductions via the Trump Prescription program.
On immigration, Mundt praises border security reducing crossings to near zero and apprehending criminals, noting support from ethnic minorities. He counters narratives of "perfect" deportees by revealing criminal histories. "It is a crime to cross the border undocumented illegally," he states.
Mundt urges Trump to explain Iran's nuclear threat, sponsored terrorism via groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and the red line against weaponization. "He's made a red line unlike previous folks," he says, warning of global repercussions akin to 9/11.
Regarding Mexico, Mundt details the takedown of a major cartel leader by Mexican forces with U.S. intelligence, exposing widespread tentacles. He affirms U.S. capability to extract Americans if needed, emphasizing non-violent planning but readiness for violence. "We can go do this," he assures, citing advanced joint forces.
Mundt highlights patriotism at the Olympics, praising U.S. hockey teams' pride and contrasting with anti-American athletes. He recounts emotional moments, like honoring a fallen teammate's family. Expecting a 90-minute address, Mundt believes Trump will cover military strength, health initiatives, and unprecedented achievements, positioning him as the right leader despite imperfections.