Rachel Maddow

And so that story is like I'm interested in those kinds of stories. I think one of the things that we've learned from the Russian opposition and from Navalny's example is that no matter what kind of support the strongman or authoritarian has, nobody is excited about the prospect of him stealing from the people in order to build himself golden palaces with golden toilets.

And so that story is like I'm interested in those kinds of stories. I think one of the things that we've learned from the Russian opposition and from Navalny's example is that no matter what kind of support the strongman or authoritarian has, nobody is excited about the prospect of him stealing from the people in order to build himself golden palaces with golden toilets.

And to the extent that we can stay focused on the self-dealing and the corruption that is the real explanation behind all of these otherwise inexplicable policies, I do think that that erodes their support, even from people who might enjoy some of the other things they're doing.

And to the extent that we can stay focused on the self-dealing and the corruption that is the real explanation behind all of these otherwise inexplicable policies, I do think that that erodes their support, even from people who might enjoy some of the other things they're doing.

But I don't think people are OK with it is the thing that I mean, like maybe there are some people who get a transgressive thrill from seeing the kind of cruelty that they're displaying and making propaganda out of. But I actually think that there's a lot more people in polling bears this out who think it's both pointless and wrong.

But I don't think people are OK with it is the thing that I mean, like maybe there are some people who get a transgressive thrill from seeing the kind of cruelty that they're displaying and making propaganda out of. But I actually think that there's a lot more people in polling bears this out who think it's both pointless and wrong.

Like I just think about that Chuck Grassley town hall in Iowa.

Like I just think about that Chuck Grassley town hall in Iowa.

No.

No.

Yeah. I mean, that's the heart of the American people on this issue. I think so. I think so. I think they were really – this is one of – I just did this little mini book tour. I just did like four or five nights. But one of the things that really like came up again and again, and we talked about it a lot, that it really seems like they were counting on –

Yeah. I mean, that's the heart of the American people on this issue. I think so. I think so. I think they were really – this is one of – I just did this little mini book tour. I just did like four or five nights. But one of the things that really like came up again and again, and we talked about it a lot, that it really seems like they were counting on –

the dehumanizing propaganda around immigrants to have taken sufficient hold among the American people that their performative cruelty toward immigrants would actually be their most popular political action. And they could get so much political capital out of abusing immigrants and

the dehumanizing propaganda around immigrants to have taken sufficient hold among the American people that their performative cruelty toward immigrants would actually be their most popular political action. And they could get so much political capital out of abusing immigrants and

for the pleasure of the American people, for the enjoyment of the American people, that it would actually build up their capital so they could use that accrued capital for other things. And the American people, by and large, have not had that reaction. And people are standing up

for the pleasure of the American people, for the enjoyment of the American people, that it would actually build up their capital so they could use that accrued capital for other things. And the American people, by and large, have not had that reaction. And people are standing up

for immigrants in their communities and repulsed by ICE raids and tactics and remembering the names of these people who have been disappeared. And one of the things that's been heartening to me is to see that the Democratic feedback loop doesn't necessarily work on the administration on these things yet, although I think in some ways it does. But seeing...

for immigrants in their communities and repulsed by ICE raids and tactics and remembering the names of these people who have been disappeared. And one of the things that's been heartening to me is to see that the Democratic feedback loop doesn't necessarily work on the administration on these things yet, although I think in some ways it does. But seeing...

protesters, seeing community members stand up for immigrants has caused Democrats to start going to the ICE detention facilities and going to these immigration prisons, these otherwise domestic black sites, showing up and saying, we know people are in there and we're here to see them. And they were banking on us being much more bloodthirsty.

protesters, seeing community members stand up for immigrants has caused Democrats to start going to the ICE detention facilities and going to these immigration prisons, these otherwise domestic black sites, showing up and saying, we know people are in there and we're here to see them. And they were banking on us being much more bloodthirsty.