Is Ozempic Included With the ICE Signing Bonus?

As someone who had their weight made fun of constantly growing up, I try not to make fat jokes. But this image has stuck with me the past few days—and unlike this week’s header, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t AI-generated.

But real talk: What is it about mocking fascists that feels so irresistible right now?

I spent the weekend reading about Crisfield, Maryland—a town that voted overwhelmingly for Trump, only to see its FEMA grant pulled, right as climate-driven flooding wipes out its economy. I felt this dark little urge to make the three-hour drive, roll down my window, and laugh at every last idiot who voted against their own survival.

I didn’t do that. (Yet.) But it made me pause.

Because the urge to mock is real, ICE agents, most of whom have European ancestors who just waltzed into America like they owned the place, have abducted thousands of kids, and thousands more are now parentless. Trump voters are cheering this on like it’s WWE. It’s tempting to line up and cheer right back as MAGA towns get wiped off the map.

But while it might feel good in the moment, that urge doesn’t lead us out of this.  That won’t happen until we all finally grow sick of the carnage brought on by the Trump / Miller / Vigo the Carpathian–level hatred. (Yup, that’s a Ghostbusters 2 reference.)

But here’s the part that really rattled me this week: ICE is hiring. Not quietly, either. They launched new recruitment ads this week, offering $50,000 sign-on bonuses for agents. 

It’s not about public safety. It’s about preparing a paramilitary force loyal to Trump and trained in abduction.

That’s the real danger. And that’s why I keep building this thing.

Because when you track these signals long enough—the ad buys, the search spikes, the email appeals, the digital mood—you start to see how normalization happens gradually, then all at once.

Trump wants you boiled like a lobster—slowly. I want you clear-eyed, now.

So here’s what’s rising and falling in the political zeitgeist this week:

💬 Note: Housing dropped out of the Top 10 and was replaced by “National Guard” which was a dominant sub-topic within Immigration that deserved its own lane.

I expect to see “National Guard” rhetoric show up in more political emails and ad content next week.

The data lines up: high scores in social reach, news coverage, email mentions, and creator-level engagement. If the pattern holds, we’ll likely see list-building campaigns and digital fundraising tests deploy this narrative in days, not weeks.

If you’re building for persuasion, pressure, or turnout, keep your eyes on this.

Trump’s strategy feeds on fear. It wants us angry, numb, mocking each other from opposite corners. And just like in Ghostbusters 2, we have to learn that Vigo’s slime only grows when we give in. We can’t out-hate the hateful. But we can outlast them—with strategy, truth, and care for one another.

Let’s meet fear not with more fear, but with something stronger: love in action.

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And now a quick reminder:

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For years, I’ve helped movements, candidates, and causes ride the waves of the digital zeitgeist. Whether the goal was persuasion, pressure, or turnout, the most consistent wins came down to one thing: timing. This weekly report empowers you to drive the conversation and seize the moment. If you forward this to friends, make sure they subscribe.

The Drift scores each topic weekly across:

It’s not a crystal ball. But it’s a solid compass.

What’s your take on the trends this week?
Hit reply or email [email protected] and let me know.

Thanks, as always, for being part of this community.
—Keegan