So: What Now?
Trump's got the mandate... but it will still be a fight
So at this writing, as the Dems engage in an orgy of self-flagellation and blame (Pelosi has apparently decided it’s all Joe Biden’s fault) (no mention of Jill?), Donald Trump and his team are preparing to hit the ground running, Day One.
(Ulp. The House, too?)
Team Trump’s plans are large. Will they actually happen?
Yes. But there will be headwinds.
While there will be big changes in trade policy, energy, taxes… we’ll stick to the security issues this page covers.
Today, let’s do immigration.
As he has done in the past, Trump has heard the voices of not just the voters but of the law enforcement agents closest to this issue. The changes here will be vast.
First, expect an initial targeting of criminal migrants. Tren de Aragua, MS-13, etc, should brace themselves. Trump fully supported the efforts of a joint federal/state task force when he won last time, and he stated routinely at his rallies that he would be standing up task forces nationwide this time around (something this space has advocated for).
(Trump-era White House press release on MS-13. Click for the link)
So expect major cases — this time, FEDERAL cases (which the Biden/Harris team did exactly none of).
Now, federal cases take time. So in some instances, the feds under Trump may simply seek to have these gang members rounded up and deported. He has been name-checking using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 at his rallies.
I would argue that this is a mistake.
The Alien Enemies Act requires, right in the statute, an ongoing state of declared war to be underway — that is, a war declared by Congress. Should Trump attempt to use this, there will undoubtedly be interminable legal challenges from all the migrant-advocate groups citing this fact.
But here’s the thing: Trump does not need that law to kick them out. They’re here illegally — they are de facto breaking the law.
Forget the Alien Enemies Act. Just use existing ICE enforcement powers and chuck them out. The legal mechanism has been there all along. What’s been lacking is the will and the dedication of resources.
But throwing hardened criminals out makes no sense if they are just going to return. So: Take their biometrics — retina scan, fingerprints, etc. — and make sure they STAY out. Do this by enforcing the mandatory sentences for re-entry.
That message will spread — fast.
Trump is poised to appoint Tom Homan as head of ICE. Homan gets this. These gang-bangers who have come to believe they are beyond the law are about to get a major shock.
Second, there will eventually be massive deportations. My contacts assure me this is indeed on the way, in some form.
This one will prove more dicey, as it will necessitate (a) forcing the migrants back on countries that don’t want them, and (b) optics that the national and international media will seize on.
Yes, there will be migrant centers that the media will race to call “concentration camps.” And yes — there will be children in them.
So, regarding the optics: ignore the media, AOC, etc. They didn’t vote for Trump — the people did. Carry out what has been promised.
(You mean… those immigration laws are real?)
If, however, it becomes clear that distinctions have to be made, simply due to the massive volume involved: after criminals, we should prioritize removing those who are wards of the state. Those who are self-supporting, and vital to the operations of a business, should be the lowest priority for removal.
And if they have a sponsor that will take responsibility for them, then yes, allow for a path to citizenship — especially if they are willing to serve in our undermanned military.
Regarding where to deport to: Recall that, under U.S. law, we can deport migrants to any nation in which a migrant has achieved legal status. So if, say, a Nicaraguan transited through Guatemala en route to the U.S, and Guatemala recognized that person — he can go back to Guatemala. This opens a lot of options.
Now, they all came through Mexico. And the current President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, is a typical Latin American leftist — and she has done herself no favors by already taking an adversarial posture towards Trump.
It’s the sort of thing Trump notices. So look for Mexico to have to answer for allowing these caravans to transit their territory. As in: they may be looking at a major influx of new faces — but going the other way this time.
With the current mood, anything is possible on our southern border.
Sanctuary cities and states WILL be challenged. This will get very legalistic, and will be another major flashpoint as leftist governors and mayors across the country vow to “resist.” This will be a battle. Here’s why.
First, the constitutionality of these “sanctuary” areas is indeed questionable — especially measures that actually obstruct the feds ability to operate. There have, in fact, been cases that demonstrate that.
Either way, there is a good chance Trump can get through a federal statute that will clarify this issue, once and for all. This “sanctuary” stuff is hugely unpopular, despite the loud minority that advocates for it.
But here’s the thing — on a more practical level, Trump can also cut off the funding. Because it appears he will have all three levers of power in the federal government, Trump can choke off the federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions.
This will matter — police departments, especially the large ones, get a lot of federal money. Further, he can augment local federal immigration enforcement efforts with more personnel, money, etc. The state and locals will be powerless to stop this.
In fact, any effort to actually impede federal efforts on this front could lead to criminal charges against state and locals — and yes, that could include mayors and governors.
Trump can also cut off the funding for migrant centers — money that every mayor and governor has been crying for more of.
Let’s see how popular 20 million migrants are when the elites who love them have to go into their pockets to directly fund their care and feeding.
There will, of course, be other security-related initiatives coming hard from the new administration (heads up, Iran). But on immigration, expect big, bold moves.
One thing about Trump: he does — or at least attempts to do — what he says. And this time, he appears ready.
On the immigration front, three months from now, America is going to be a very different place.
So, Chris Asks: Where Will The Deep State Go?
Maybe deep state is a bit of a loaded term, but Trump will be determined this time around to get rid of the bureaucrats that he feels are hurting the country, and in some cases, him personally.
He may not succeed in his mission to “drain the swamp” but he will likely make some headway as his four years of experience and sheer determination to change the system will show the door to some lifelong government insiders.
Obama and Biden apparatchiks will be soon out looking for a new job. Karine Jean Pierre, incompetent Mayor Pete, the entire DOJ leadership, most of the State Department, Alejandro Mayorkas and his staff, perhaps everyone in the Department of Education… all will be looking for new gigs.
And where will they go?
It seems like many Democrats who fall out of favor or find themselves unemployed go into three industries that appear to have an unusually close relationship with the former Party of the People: television media, publishing, and academia.
Fired FBI hack Andrew McCabe has a job at CNN. Potential spy and suspended State Department employee Robert Malley is working at Yale and Princeton despite being under a very slow federal investigation. Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney was immediately rewarded with a book contract from Little Brown and Company after she was smoked in the Wyoming House Seat Primary for helping the Dems attack Trump.
These three industries appear to reward those that fall on the sword for the Democratic Party for one reason or another. Under criminal investigation – no problem. Writing a book that no one will read – no problem. Proven liar – we will put you on television as a trusted source. Everyone gets a golden parachute.
(My polls were totally wrong? No problem — off to Harvard!)
The relationship between the Democratic Party and these industries is a murky one. Is money changing hands? Is favorable legislation being enacted? Federal regulations influenced? Tax write-offs created?
Who knows. One thing is for sure: if you get in trouble or lose your job as a loyal Democrat, there are no serious consequences –- there is a payoff. A nice book deal, a no-show teaching job, or a multi-million-dollar contract to appear on a show that loses money.
We are looking forward to hearing or reading words of wisdom from the incompetents currently employed by the failing Biden Administration. There are three very influential industries that will, we’re sure, make sure we hear their message.
And Speaking Of The Deep State….
Did anyone else see this story?
Funny — I don’t recall DOJ holding meetings to figure out how to counter the Biden administration’s illegal orders. You know, like an evidence-free FISA warrant, the deep-sixing of an important laptop, an “insurrection” investigation based on tweets, the ignoring of border laws, the blind eye to foreign money steered to radical student groups… you know, that sort of thing.
I hope these Pentagon guys kept minutes. And signed them.
No need for President Trump to try to fire them. But he’s Commander -in-Chief. And we do have bases in Iceland….
Let’s Agree On A Couple Of Things….
The Dems did this to themselves. Pretty much any candidate would’ve been at the least beaten, and in some cases pasted even worse than Kamala was. When you’ve set yourselves up as the part of the coastal elites, who ferociously adopt luxury beliefs to the detriment of the non-elites… you’re asking for it. This won’t be easy to fix.
The victory lap has been fun, and at times (as in, while watching X), delish. But there is hard road ahead — and another election in just two years. Time to let it go and move forward. (Well, maybe just one day more…).
Hollywood can, and should, go eff itself.
The Menendez boys are guilty and should remain where they are. (More on that soon).
This Week’s Ops Report….
… covers who, exactly, Trump tilted in his favor. Is it for good? Click HERE for the full thing — or below for a free preview.
And finally….
The takeaway here is not that Biden was struggling. The takeaway is that Jill remains one of America’s most awful people.
