Jonathan Swan

One of the early stumbles was the travel ban against Muslim-majority countries. It was very sloppily drafted, poorly coordinated, and it ended up being struck down. They had to redraft it. They implement the infamous zero-tolerance policy where they separate parents from their children at the border. But after a period of bad media coverage, Donald Trump... reverses that order.

One of the early stumbles was the travel ban against Muslim-majority countries. It was very sloppily drafted, poorly coordinated, and it ended up being struck down. They had to redraft it. They implement the infamous zero-tolerance policy where they separate parents from their children at the border. But after a period of bad media coverage, Donald Trump... reverses that order.

And that was something that Stephen Miller had advocated for. And so Stephen Miller found himself thwarted at many levels throughout the first couple of years of the presidency. But by 2020, he had really gotten his footing. He'd learned a lot about where the levers of power were in the government. And by the end, they used COVID to effectively seal the southern border.

And that was something that Stephen Miller had advocated for. And so Stephen Miller found himself thwarted at many levels throughout the first couple of years of the presidency. But by 2020, he had really gotten his footing. He'd learned a lot about where the levers of power were in the government. And by the end, they used COVID to effectively seal the southern border.

They implement Title 42, which is to declare a public health emergency at the border, which basically gave them the ability to immediately turn people back.

They implement Title 42, which is to declare a public health emergency at the border, which basically gave them the ability to immediately turn people back.

That's right. And when Donald Trump leaves office in early 2021— Stephen Miller gets to work for the next four years planning what they would do in a second term if he ever retook the presidency and planning how they would get through any and all obstruction from the left for this return to power.

That's right. And when Donald Trump leaves office in early 2021— Stephen Miller gets to work for the next four years planning what they would do in a second term if he ever retook the presidency and planning how they would get through any and all obstruction from the left for this return to power.

So Stephen Miller does a few things. One is he starts a nonprofit called America First Legal. And what he does with this group is he basically builds, in his mind, the right-wing version of the ACLU. He had spent the previous four years building in frustration with very effective left-leaning groups, sued the Trump administration on all sorts of policy areas.

So Stephen Miller does a few things. One is he starts a nonprofit called America First Legal. And what he does with this group is he basically builds, in his mind, the right-wing version of the ACLU. He had spent the previous four years building in frustration with very effective left-leaning groups, sued the Trump administration on all sorts of policy areas.

And Stephen Miller wanted to create a version of that on the right. But the most important thing he did immediately after they left office was he demonstrated his undying loyalty to Donald Trump. Remember, when Trump left office, he was a pariah. He was a defeated president, but also an impeached president twice over and came close to being convicted by the Senate.

And Stephen Miller wanted to create a version of that on the right. But the most important thing he did immediately after they left office was he demonstrated his undying loyalty to Donald Trump. Remember, when Trump left office, he was a pariah. He was a defeated president, but also an impeached president twice over and came close to being convicted by the Senate.

Many people wanted to move on from him. They saw him as the past, not the future.

Many people wanted to move on from him. They saw him as the past, not the future.

Stephen Miller very publicly showed that he never left Donald Trump's side.

Stephen Miller very publicly showed that he never left Donald Trump's side.

This was one of the president's signature achievements. And when he's on TV, he's defending Trump, But he's also pushing forward his immigration agenda.

This was one of the president's signature achievements. And when he's on TV, he's defending Trump, But he's also pushing forward his immigration agenda.

He went on Fox News. Seal the border. Deport all the illegals. He spoke at conservative conferences.

He went on Fox News. Seal the border. Deport all the illegals. He spoke at conservative conferences.