Welcome to Catty Chats: claws-out interviews with people trying to make things suck less in new and different ways.

I am thrilled that I get to share with you my conversation with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen.

He's had a long political career in the Maryland Statehouse, the U.S. House of Representatives, and most recently the U.S. Senate since 2017.

I always thought of him as smart, and capable, and doing and saying all the right things on issues I cared about. And also, I didn't really think about him THAT much. I wasn't worried about what he'd do on this or that vote.

He wasn't a flashy guy. He wasn't a spotlight hog. To me his vibe was "I'm the guy doing my job, you must be the other guy" (shout out to Markie Mark in "The Departed").

And that was GREAT, by the way. Gold stars.

Then something shifted in 2025. And he became a loud and out-in-front advocate at the most important time. When others who had wanted the spotlight BEFORE started to shy away from the spotlight - for their own careers, or their own convenience, or to avoid hearing angry questions from constituents.

Chris Van Hollen was out in front for Kilmar Abrego Garcia; for ICE detainees and anti-ICE protestors; to people who were trying to bring just for the illegality and immorality of ICE and DHS, which continues to this very day. He was and is out in front of all of that, and so much more.

We discuss all things ICE: how we got into the position that we're in; how we can fight; what he has seen in ICE that has changed; what might be coming down the pike; how to be ready; AND WHY IT'S GOOD TO HOLD ONTO THE ANGER.

...he's also pretty funny!

Despite being far more in the spotlight over the last year or more, he's still the guy just doing his job, and if you're asking "who does he think he is?" you must be the other guy.

When you go to check out the proposed new DHS mega detention center before ICE moves in... but turns out you're late.

Part 1: I meet Claire from Hagerstown Rapid Response in front of the new would-be ICE detention center outside Hagerstown to discuss the the sloppiness in execution, the harm being done to our who are vulnerable neighbors as well as all of Washington County, and the ramp up in ICE on-site staffing and build out of the camp that we would see in the coming 12-72 hours.

Part 2: After Part 1 was interrupted by a couple of ICE agents who were there earlier than the 12-72 hours we expected, Claire and I finish our interview in an on line discussion about how DHS, the Washington County Maryland Board of Commissioners may have been lying to Marylanders for months, the impact of housing 1,500+ detainees in a town of 2,000 residents and how everyone can help fight back.

As DHS & ICE continue to rampage cities across the U.S. the “document research nerds” of Project Saltbox teach us how they uncover news that the mainstream media has missed.

We discuss what they look for to uncover ICE’s next moves, and what they’re seeing for the future in Minneapolis, Maryland and beyond including alarming new tools and dangerous procedures every U.S. community needs to know about about.

We also discuss how ordinary people can help do extraordinary things, community, and what gives us each hope.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In the last third my mic imploded and I switch to different mic, so you may notice a change in sound from this host.

CAT LADY'S NOTE: BRE OF PROJECT SALTBOX HAS 8 CATS!!!

Key Bookmarks (afer :

2:46: How they are, what are their backgrounds and why are they qualified to figure out and predict all things ICE and DHS from seemingly boring and buried documents

8:21: How they knew ICE was drawing down from Chicago before it happened

8:53: Americans are being purposely misled about the ICE “drawdown” in Minneapolis

14:27: what is WEXMAC TITUS and how DHS, DOD and ICE are trying to use this contracting tool to hide their plans from Americans, hoping by the time we figure things out it will be “too late” to do anything

18:30: The dangerous, sloppy or non existent new ICE/DHS “procedures” and how they threaten lives, health and economies of cities, counties of states wherever new “ICE Warehouses” & mass detention centers are built

26:14 NEW “drone lending library” for rank and file ICE agents?

29:47: What are cell simulators and how DHS/ICE are tracking citizens doing regular, legal things to try to intimidate them

35:23: What’s going on in Maryland and how/why did the detention warehouse plans for Hagerstown/Washington County Maryland blow a story wide open and mobilize citizens across the country?

39:59: HOW PEOPLE CAN FIGHT BACK one thing in your wheelhouse at a time

49:38: WHAT GIVES USE EACH HOPE!