Jonathan Swan

And, you know, so now they're sort of, well, we need to send the troops down there. And it's like, okay, but no one's really coming across. But the second part of the immigration agenda that has been far less successful is interior deportations, removing people from the country. And in that sense, the numbers are nothing like what they said they would be so far.

And, you know, so now they're sort of, well, we need to send the troops down there. And it's like, okay, but no one's really coming across. But the second part of the immigration agenda that has been far less successful is interior deportations, removing people from the country. And in that sense, the numbers are nothing like what they said they would be so far.

They promised the biggest deportation operation in American history, deporting millions of people every year. They're nowhere near on track to do that. And of course, very widely reported, they are jettisoning due process and sending people to prison for terrorists in El Salvador. At least one person sent there by mistake. They're running into a battle with the courts.

They promised the biggest deportation operation in American history, deporting millions of people every year. They're nowhere near on track to do that. And of course, very widely reported, they are jettisoning due process and sending people to prison for terrorists in El Salvador. At least one person sent there by mistake. They're running into a battle with the courts.

So that side of the immigration agenda is very messy.

So that side of the immigration agenda is very messy.

I can't speak for everyone in the White House, but for the vast majority of them, any day that the public conversation is about immigration is a good day. Anytime they're in trouble, like when their tariff strategy is causing huge anxiety in the public, the markets to crash, their safe space, their North Star is immigration. And the playbook is the same.

I can't speak for everyone in the White House, but for the vast majority of them, any day that the public conversation is about immigration is a good day. Anytime they're in trouble, like when their tariff strategy is causing huge anxiety in the public, the markets to crash, their safe space, their North Star is immigration. And the playbook is the same.

wheel out photographs of the most heinous criminals, put out the most graphic, lurid stories of illegal immigrants doing awful things to American citizens. And I would say the majority opinion, and certainly Trump's own instincts, are that, you know, immigration is a winning issue. Whenever we can talk about immigration, we're winning.

wheel out photographs of the most heinous criminals, put out the most graphic, lurid stories of illegal immigrants doing awful things to American citizens. And I would say the majority opinion, and certainly Trump's own instincts, are that, you know, immigration is a winning issue. Whenever we can talk about immigration, we're winning.

I have no qualms about describing it as a success. I would say it's stunningly successful, perhaps the most successful element of his program so far. You can affix monetary value to it. He has extorted about a billion dollars collectively in pro bono work from these law firms on behalf of his agenda. They've said, Mr. Trump, please don't hurt us. Please don't attack us.

I have no qualms about describing it as a success. I would say it's stunningly successful, perhaps the most successful element of his program so far. You can affix monetary value to it. He has extorted about a billion dollars collectively in pro bono work from these law firms on behalf of his agenda. They've said, Mr. Trump, please don't hurt us. Please don't attack us.

We will do all this work for you for free, $100 million worth of free work. utter capitulation. The universities, as you say, are changing their policies. And then just look at corporate America. I mean, you had this procession of CEOs go down to Mar-a-Lago during the transition, go sit down, have dinner with him, and then they gave him money.

We will do all this work for you for free, $100 million worth of free work. utter capitulation. The universities, as you say, are changing their policies. And then just look at corporate America. I mean, you had this procession of CEOs go down to Mar-a-Lago during the transition, go sit down, have dinner with him, and then they gave him money.

They gave a million dollar check here for his inauguration. And then his people, his political authorities came back to him and said, actually, guys, we need a little more money. His political operation, Maggie will know the figure better than me, it keeps growing. But, you know, we're going to see probably a billion dollars plowed into this thing by the midterm elections.

They gave a million dollar check here for his inauguration. And then his people, his political authorities came back to him and said, actually, guys, we need a little more money. His political operation, Maggie will know the figure better than me, it keeps growing. But, you know, we're going to see probably a billion dollars plowed into this thing by the midterm elections.

What else would you use? There's no other word for it. I don't even know if Trump would dispute that word. I mean, he is like publicly boasting.

What else would you use? There's no other word for it. I don't even know if Trump would dispute that word. I mean, he is like publicly boasting.

It's this, from Trump's perspective, this virtuous cycle. Businesses are scared. They give the money. The money goes into Trump's political operation, which is designed to put the fear of God into any Republican who will step out of line, oppose his agenda. So it's this circle, right? Money comes in. Money is used to intimidate. Intimidation, you know, extracts more money.

It's this, from Trump's perspective, this virtuous cycle. Businesses are scared. They give the money. The money goes into Trump's political operation, which is designed to put the fear of God into any Republican who will step out of line, oppose his agenda. So it's this circle, right? Money comes in. Money is used to intimidate. Intimidation, you know, extracts more money.