Senators far apart on DHS deal as talks stall with deadline looming

[EarlG]

2. This feels like a total no-brainer

The Hill is framing it in classic lazy-ass beltway reporting style as both sides “pointing fingers” and Democrats facing “intense pressure from their base.” But IMO that misses the mark by a wide margin.

The public has already decided that they hate this ICE Gestapo stuff, and the Democrats are surely riding a wave of public support here. All they have to do is show that they are the ones who are trying to rein in ICE, and it’s a clear win.

Meanwhile the Republicans not only have to defend the current iteration of ICE, they have to explain why they won’t stand up for the Constitution by forcing ICE to abide by common sense standards — standards that should seem completely reasonable to most people who aren’t already in the Trump cult.

All Democrats have to do is stand firm and show that they’re the ones trying to do something about ICE, while letting the Republicans eat shit as their approval ratings slide and their chance of holding Congress disappears down the toilet.

They just need a short, sharp response to any question they get asked about this. Something like, “No deal until Trump’s DHS stops abusing the Constitution and the American people.”

If there was ever a moment for Dem Senators to stand firm, this is the moment. It’s an easy win. All they have to do is make it happen.