On Sunday, ABC’s World News Tonight With David Muir tried to tie the deportation of illegal immigrants to the public’s irritation with prices and blamed the rising cost of beef on ICE raids and stoked fears the administration was targeting legal, documented meat packing workers. Desperate for a story, ABC correspondent Steve Portnoy condemned President Trump for the rising inflation on groceries and gas, tying it back to Trump’s “rejection” to make a quick and easy deal with Iran.
Citing a joint statement from Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas cattlemen groups, ABC sought to tug at the heartstrings of their fan base with the mention of ICE raids. Having called alert to, “a massive chilling effect on legal documented workers,” in which, “these types of disruptions will lead to higher beef prices for consumers,” the ranchers were quick to point a finger for their dwindling workforce.
Seeming to place blame on immigration enforcement, Portnoy seemed skeptical of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who stated, “ICE is targeting heinous criminals and immigrants with final orders of removal.”
Even with these cattlemen groups having picked a fight with ICE, the reality was, those workers didn’t have anything to fear because they have authorization to work in the United States. Yet, they still chose to shelf their job due to immigration enforcement presence in the area. Instead of placing blame on people actually doing their job, maybe these ranchers should reconsider who they hire.
Having already honed in on the price of ground beef, “averaging about $7 a pound,” Portnoy was quick to mention the next expense on everyone’s list: Gas.
With a voter having claimed, “We know the economy for us is not great,” Portnoy pointed out the range of gas station prices. Portnoy quoted GasBuddy, the mobile app equipped with finding the cheapest gas stations near you, in which, “Americans are paying an average 4.45, about $1.50 more than at the start of the Iran war.”
Portnoy turned the conversation into a rant on Trump’s ongoing war with Iran. With Trump’s claim that, “Oil will come dropping down as soon as Iran gives up, as soon as the war is over, which will be soon,” it's no surprise Portnoy put a timer on his promise.
In an attempt to tie his argument in a perfect bow, Portnoy recounted the recent deal offered by Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a similar deal made during the summer. In his framing, Portnoy made Iran seem like the sensible ones.
Due to Trump’s rejection of the offer, and keeping up with the omission, Portnoy left his audience with no other choice than to blame Trump for the rising costs. Portnoy kept clear of discussion of Iran’s recent attacks on cargo vessels and commercial oil tankers in the Strait, which resulted in the U.S. retaliating.
When it comes to inflation, it was the drum the media would keep thumping until Election Day.
Trump was playing a losing game against the liberal agenda.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight With David Muir
September 27, 2026
10:11:49 p.m. EasternLINSEY DAVIS: Tonight, a warning that could hit Americans where they feel it every day at the grocery aisle and around the dinner table. Beef prices are already soaring. Now a trade group warns immigration rates could bring another chill to an industry already under pressure. Here's ABC's Steven Portnoy tonight.
[CUT TO PACKAGE]
STEVEN PORTNOY: Tonight, American ranchers speaking out about ICE raids. Cattlemen's groups in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Writing in a joint statement that ICE operations are having a massive chilling effect on legal documented workers- warning, “these types of disruptions will lead to higher beef prices for consumers.” The Homeland Security secretary says ICE is targeting heinous criminals and immigrants with final orders of removal.
But ground beef is already averaging about $7 a pound, and that's just one example of the price pressures Americans face.
SHAWN BASS (VOTER IN HENRICO COUNTY, VA): We go to the grocery store, we buy gas. We know the economy for us is not great.
PORTNOY: This Detroit gas station is now charging $6 a gallon, an outlier. But nationwide, GasBuddy says Americans are paying an average 4.45, about $1.50 more than at the start of the Iran war.Tonight, President Trump again arguing prices will soon fall.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Oil will come dropping down as soon as Iran gives up, as soon as the war is over, which will be soon.
PORTNOY: But Trump this weekend, rejecting a deal offered by Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. again signs on to the terms of this summer's short lived cease fire. The Democratic-leaning veterans group VoteVets now pledging to spend $60 million to defeat Republican candidates this fall.
(...)
