The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe: ‘Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, “ICE out.’”

This is the Feb. 2, 2026, edition of “The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe” newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered straight to your inbox Monday through Friday.

What does the Supreme Court of the United States do all day? 

Lower-court judges, even with crowded dockets, still manage to find time to block unconstitutional schemes launched by the Trump administration. 

The Supreme Court chooses silence. 

While the White House ignores federal court orders, conducts warrantless searches, illegally detains people, and tramples First and Second Amendment rights, the Roberts Court remains on the sidelines.

The court could stop these abuses. Instead, it drags its feet and delays, as if waiting for the moment to pass. 

Last year, the court waited until the last day of the year to issue a temporary order blocking the Trump administration from using U.S. military troops as domestic law enforcement — a move whose unconstitutionality would be obvious to any first-year law student.

Last September, the court went further, ruling that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could detain people based on their race, accent, or place of work. 

This as the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and other federal authorities sow chaos on American streets through unconstitutional thuggery. 

What does the Roberts Court do in response? 

It plays the role of Pontius Pilate, washing its hands of controversy instead of doing what’s right. 

So why the inaction? 

Why the fear? 

Americans are paying the price for the court’s silence: in blood, in trauma, and in the steady erosion of constitutional rights.

It’s time the Supreme Court begins fulfilling its duty: to defend the Constitution and restrain an executive branch veering dangerously out of control.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ‘ICE out.’ We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
— Bad Bunny accepting the Grammy for best música urbana album

Sources: Fox, Morning Consult, Quantus, Emerson

JOE GETS MAD 😡 ABOUT DHS ‘THUGGERY’

Federal agents recklessly swerved their cars and drew their weapons on an unarmed woman in Minnesota last week, as she frantically called the local police to intervene. Joe reacted to the shocking video this morning on “Morning Joe.”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZe68yJVynA?si=rpf_RSNYFaFzLGMD

BUCKINGHAM PALACE UNDER RENEWED SCRUTINY

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urging Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to testify in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The unusual call marks a rare moment in which a sitting prime minister has weighed in directly on matters involving the royal family — though Andrew was stripped of his title — reflecting mounting public pressure and growing outrage over his past association with Epstein. 

The renewed scrutiny follows the Justice Department’s release of documents that detail the former Prince Andrew’s communications with Epstein and include photographs appearing to show Andrew kneeling over a woman lying on the ground, her face blurred and her identity unknown. 

The files also contain email exchanges in which Epstein offers to introduce Andrew to a “beautiful Russian friend,” and another in which he appears to invite Epstein to Buckingham Palace, saying it would offer “lots of privacy.” 

It remains unclear whether such a meeting took place. Mountbatten-Windsor and Buckingham Palace have not responded to MS NOW requests for comment.

A CONVERSATION WITH GOV. KATHY HOCHUL

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is escalating her standoff with federal immigration authorities, seeking to end formal cooperation agreements between local police and ICE. Hochul joined “Morning Joe” to explain the timing of the move — and why she believes the country is at an inflection point.

MB: Governor, you’re proposing to end state and local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. What pushed you to take this step now, especially as there are signs ICE activity could ramp up?

KH: Let’s step back and ask why we’re even having this conversation. It shocks the conscience that we had to welcome a 5-year-old home from custody only because a judge ordered it — not because the administration had a change of heart. A child was held for more than two weeks. My God, this country has become unrecognizable.

MB: Critics say your proposal could prevent police from cooperating in criminal investigations. What do you say to that? 

KH: We are not saying that local police cannot cooperate when there’s a criminal investigation. We’ve always done that and always will. Why would we divert local law enforcement from catching criminals in the streets, stopping gun trafficking, stopping the flow of drugs, and instead deputize them for civil-only immigration enforcement? That makes no sense.

JL: The administration argues that states and cities are to blame for violence because they don’t cooperate with ICE. How do you respond to that charge? 

KH: Law enforcement does not want these agreements. They don’t want to be weaponized against the very communities they’re trying to build trust with. What we’re hearing is that people no longer distinguish between local police and ICE — and that destroys years of work building relationships of trust.

MB: We’ve all seen disturbing footage of ICE operations. What concerns you most about how these actions are being carried out?

KH: They are not trained in conflict de-escalation the way local law enforcement is. They don’t belong in this role at all. I want my police going after murderers, rapists, gun traffickers — and being available for emergencies — not being distracted or pulled into something that undermines public safety.

JL: New York City hasn’t yet become a focal point for ICE activity. Do you expect that to change?

KH: We are prepared for whatever happens. But coming after New York City would destabilize the economic engine of this country. We are cooperating fully on public safety. We do not need a surge.

Pablo Torre: ICE funding has exploded. If they have so many resources, why do they even need this level of local cooperation?

KH: There is no explanation. They used to be a $6 billion agency — now they’re an $85 billion one. They’re pulling in people from Border Patrol, even the Bureau of Prisons. Meanwhile, they want our local police distracted from real public safety. I will not support that, and we are going to change the law in the state of New York.

MB: You’ve also proposed limits on where ICE can operate. Why was that necessary?

KH: We are saying they cannot operate in sensitive locations — churches, synagogues, schools, day care centers, and hospitals. Nurses are telling us ICE is entering hospitals. I cannot believe I have to say this, but we now have to pass a law making clear that agents cannot enter homeless shelters without a warrant. This country is no longer recognizable — but we are standing up.

This conversation has been condensed and edited for brevity and clarity.

EXTRA HOT TEA: SIX MORE WEEKS

Any plans to pack away the coats and scarves were put on hold early Monday morning, when Punxsutawney Phil — America’s most famous groundhog — stepped into the spotlight and cast a shadow over hopes for an early spring. At Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania, Phil’s appearance during the 140th annual Groundhog Day celebration signaled, alas, six more weeks of winter.

The Feb. 2 ritual, in which Phil’s handlers interpret his winks and nods as a seasonal prophecy, drew tens of thousands of revelers willing to brave frigid temperatures. “Oh man, it just breaks up the doldrums of winter,” one attendee told NPR. “It’s like Halloween and New Year’s Eve all wrapped up into one holiday.”

ONE MORE SHOT

SPILL IT!

This week, actor Ian McKellan will join us to discuss his new play, “The Ark.” 

Have a question? Ask here, and we may feature your question on the show.

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