Adam Nichols

President Donald Trump went on a provable "lying spree" that saw him spew outright falsehoods for a whole week, CNN reported.

The network's fact checker, Daniel Dale, pointed out multiple claims of impressive economic conditions — all of which he said were totally untrue.

"Grocery prices. Gas prices. Prescription drug prices. Overall prices. Over just three days, Trump made false claims about all of them," Dale wrote.

“'Every price is down,' he said Thursday. 'Everything is way down,' he said at another Thursday event. 'Prices are down under the Trump administration, and they’re down substantially,' he said Friday, adding, 'Everybody knows that it’s far less expensive under Trump than it was under Sleepy Joe Biden. And the prices are way down.'

"None of that is true."

Dale wrote that Trump's most dramatic claims include:

• "Every price is down," he declared, despite evidence showing prices have actually increased by 1.7% since January.
• "Inflation is almost nonexistent," when in fact inflation has been steady at 3%.
• "Groceries are way down," when grocery prices have actually risen 1.4% between January and September.
• Claiming prescription drug prices have been cut by impossible percentages like "1,200%".
• Asserting gas prices have "plummeted to the lowest in two decades," when the national average remains around $3.08 per gallon.

Key quotes reveal the extent of Trump's misrepresentations, Dale said:

"We have almost no inflation. We're down now to 2%," Trump claimed, a statement contradicted by official economic data.

"Everybody knows that it's far less expensive under Trump than it was under Sleepy Joe Biden. And the prices are way down."

"Over and over, Trump claimed overall prices have fallen since he returned to office in late January," Dale wrote.

Elections last week marked a significant shift in American political discourse — with sweeping Democratic Party wins being less a direct reaction to Donald Trump rule and more a result that the opposition has discovered his "kryptonite," a columnist wrote Monday.

Zohran Mamdani, in particular, was an antidote to Trump's message of anger and revenge — and his message of empathy and hoped destroyed his competition, wrote E. J. Dionne Jr. for the New York Times.

He articulated a vision of political engagement that went beyond criticism, appealing to those "who see politics today as too cruel for the flame of hope to still burn," wrote Dionne Jr. In his victory speech, he declared, "New Yorkers have spoken in a clear voice: Hope is alive."

Abigail Spanberger captured the essence of this new political approach in her race to become the Democratic governor of Virginia, observing that "points of pride for people matter" when discussing work and community. She emphasized the importance of listening, stating, "If we're going into communities and listening to what matters to people, there's just a value in grounding our discussions in people's sense of place and who they are."

Democrat Mikie Sherrill championed workers' rights in her New Jersey governor race, asserting, "When you lift workers up, all workers get lifted up." Her campaign approach defied traditional political divisions, winning 50 percent support among voters without college degrees.

The candidates recognized the fundamental emotional need that Trump had previously exploited, Dionne Jr. wrote. As Spanberger noted, "The first thing that people are looking for, I think, in political engagement, is some level of respect."

Mamdani's campaign strategy was particularly innovative. Instead of condemning Trump voters, he simply asked them why they felt disconnected from traditional politics. This approach of genuine curiosity replaced the rhetoric of division, the columnist wrote.

The election results revealed the limitations of Trump's approach. His focus on billionaires and pursuit of a lavish White House ballroom symbolized a disconnect from everyday Americans' experiences.

The victories of Spanberger, Sherrill, and Mamdani demonstrated a powerful political alternative: an approach based on empathy, respect, and genuine engagement with voters' lived experiences, Dionne Jr. wrote. The piece was titled, "Now We Know Trump’s Kryptonite."

As Spanberger reflected on a local hospital's reopening, she captured the underlying message of her successful campaign, Dionne Jr wrote: "Kind of back to the notion of hope, right?"

An ex-US attorney slammed a current one Saturday for adamantly pursuing a farcical case she said should never have been prosecuted.

Barbara McQuade wrote for MSNBC about the case of Sean Dunn, an Air Force veteran who threw a Subway sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent, which she wrote had become a striking example of prosecutorial overreach and resource misallocation.

And President Donald Trump's pick for Washington, D.C. US attorney, ex-Fox star Jeanine Pirro, was hammered for heading the investigation.

"Pirro should have known better than to file assault charges because the facts didn’t satisfy the elements of the offense," McQuade wrote in a column titled, "US Attorney Jeanine Pirro wasted our money pursuing sandwich thrower."

"To prove an assault under the federal statute, the prosecution must establish not just that Dunn threw the sandwich at the agent, but that the act constituted a 'forcible assault.'"

A Subway sandwich bouncing off an agent clad in body armor certainly didn't meet that standard, she wrote.

Dunn admitted to throwing the sandwich as an act of protest against President Trump's federal law enforcement surge into Washington, D.C. The jury ultimately agreed with his defense, returning a not-guilty verdict.

The prosecution's case hinged on proving a "forcible assault," which legally requires demonstrating a "reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm." However, the evidence and testimony made this claim seem ridiculous, McQuade wrote.

She wrote that defense attorney Sabrina Shroff masterfully dismantled the prosecution's argument, declaring, "A footlong from Subway could not and certainly did not inflict bodily harm." When Dunn threw the sandwich, it hit the agent's bulletproof vest, prompting laughter in the courtroom when the agent testified about sandwich "explosions" and condiment stains.

Shroff's closing argument was particularly pointed: "If the vest is designed to protect an agent from gunfire, it is definitely going to keep you safe from a sandwich."

Pirro defended the prosecution, stating, "Even children know when they are angry, they are not allowed to throw objects at one another." However, the article argues that not every inappropriate action warrants criminal charges.

But McQuade wrote the prosecution's approach raised serious questions about resource allocation. The federal government invested significant time and effort in a high-profile arrest, even posting video of Dunn's arrest on social media - a violation of Justice Department policy.

Dunn had already suffered professional consequences, losing his job as a paralegal at the Department of Justice. The criminal prosecution seemed unnecessary and potentially distracting from more serious cases that might have gone unaddressed, McQuade wrote.

The Washington National Opera is contemplating leaving the Kennedy Center — a major casualty of President Donald Trump's takeover of the cultural institution, according to Artistic Director Francesca Zambello.

Zambello painted a stark picture of the center's transformation, noting to The Guardian, "It is our desire to perform in our home at the Kennedy Center. But if we cannot raise enough money, or sell enough tickets in there, we have to consider other options."

She emphasized that "the two things that support a company financially, because of the takeover, have been severely compromised."

The audience response has been particularly bad, she said, while sharing passionate messages the opera has received.

"They say things like: 'I'm never setting foot in there until the "orange menace" is gone.' Or: 'Don't you know history? Don't you know what Hitler did? I refuse to give you a penny.'"

The opera's president of the board of trustees, Andy Pharoah, denied Zambello's warning was true.

“The WNO has no plans to move out of the Kennedy Center and we are proud to be part of America’s cultural center, entering our 70th season," he said in a statement.

In February 2025, Trump declared himself chair of the Kennedy Center, firing its bipartisan board and replacing leadership with his own appointees. The move sparked widespread criticism, leading to a 40% drop in ticket sales and donor confidence.

Ticket sales for the opera have plummeted dramatically, the artistic director said. Before Trump's takeover, performances ran at 80%-90% capacity. Now, they're down to 60%, with the appearance of fuller houses maintained by distributing complimentary tickets, The Guardian reported.

Zambello described the center as "tainted" and "politicized by the current management." She contrasted this with the previous board, which "was always a mix of Republicans and Democrats. It did not matter that someone was a Republican or a Democrat. What mattered was that they were leading a big, important institution."

The new management has raised additional concerns. "They have suggested that we produce more popular operas," Zambello noted. "This season, we are producing The Marriage of Figaro, Aida and West Side Story … I don't see how we can get more popular than that."

She also highlighted ongoing challenges with the new leadership, including questions about the company's commitment to diversity. "The management has questioned some aspects of it, and we have explained these are the best people for the roles," she said. "America is an incredibly diverse country, and so we want to represent every part of this country on our stage."

The financial pressure is intense, she said. Richard Grenell, the Trump-appointed president of the center, issued an edict requiring all shows to be "net neutral," but Zambello admitted to The Guardian, "We're at the point where now we can't present a net-neutral budget without an epic amount of outside funding, or knowing that our patrons would come back."

Despite the challenges, Zambello remains hopeful about finding a way forward, stating, "We can't turn our backs on half this country. We have to find a way to all communicate and function together. I don't believe in 'us' and 'them'."

President Donald Trump unleashed a panicked warning to Republicans Saturday as he tried to pressure them into scrapping the filibuster.

"The Democrats are winning!' he gasped in a Truth Social post.

"The Democrats are winning in that they are destroying our great, miracle economy, which is exactly what they set out to do. TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!"

Trump has become increasingly frustrated as multiple calls to scrap the Senate filibuster — a procedural rule that allows members to block a measure that receives less than 60 votes — have fallen on deaf ears.

He wants it scrapped as he blames Democrats' blocking of a Republican budget for a government shutdown that's now in its second month.

But key Republicans — among them House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate leader John Thune (R-SC) — have openly defied Trump on his demand, warning that it would allow for Democrats to pursue their “worst impulses” should they retake the majority in Congress.

The Department of Justice's case against former FBI Director James Comey appears to be unraveling, with new evidence casting significant doubt on the prosecution's central allegations, The New Republic wrote.

Prosecutors claim Comey lied during 2020 Senate testimony when he denied authorizing an anonymous FBI source to speak to news outlets about the bureau's Hillary Clinton investigation — with the alleged source being identified as attorney Dan Richman.

But newly revealed documents show Richman wasn't even employed by the FBI at the time — and that glitch has the government's case "coming apart at the seams," The New Republic wrote.

Documents reviewed by Lawfare reveal critical inconsistencies in Richman's employment status. His first term at the FBI ran from June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2016, serving unpaid and part-time as an advisor on encryption issues.

A handwritten FBI official's note provides a damning detail: "Doc drawn up + sent to OGC for Richman signature. Never signed. Never officially reappointed after June 2016."

That suggests that all evidence prosecutors cited occurred outside Richman's periods of employment at the FBI, The New Republic reported. The DOJ referenced an email chain from October 29 to November 2, 2016 — after Richman's first term ended — and emails and text exchanges in 2017.

The case is further complicated by additional judicial scrutiny. One magistrate judge has already demanded prosecutors stop examining Comey and Richman's communications, concerned about potential attorney-client privilege violations.

A federal judge is now seeking a complete account of the grand jury proceedings, after interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan submitted only a partial record — suggesting the government's case may be even more precarious than initially thought.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered a fiery defense of the Justice Department's latest actions at the Federalist Society's annual lawyers' conference, using colorful language to dismiss accusations of weaponizing the justice system.

Blanche began with a provocative statement about the previous administration's Justice Department, declaring, "What happened the past four years within the United States Department of Justice, I'm going to say a Latin term: bats---t crazy" — drawing laughter from the staunchly conservative audience. Politico reported on the speech.

Addressing claims of political prosecution, Blanche passionately argued, "When I read now that we're weaponizing, I feel like I'm being gaslit, because we're doing exactly the opposite. I take umbrage at the idea that the work that our prosecutors are doing is weaponization, because I have receipts. I know what happened the past couple years. I've lived it."

He was particularly critical of judges, asserting, "They have a robe on but they are more political or certainly as political as the most liberal governor or [district attorney] … There's a group of judges that are repeat players, and that's obviously not by happenstance, that's intentional, and it's a war, man."

Blanche also took aim at professional legal organizations, specifically targeting the D.C. Bar, calling it "one of the most activist, obnoxious bars when it comes to going after conservative lawyers. It's out of this world."

The deputy attorney general complained about media coverage of immigration policies, suggesting journalists unfairly criticize the administration's approach while ignoring similar past statements by Democratic politicians.

Throughout his speech, Blanche maintained a combative tone, repeatedly framing legal challenges as a "war" and portraying the Justice Department as fighting against what he sees as politically motivated resistance.

His remarks came in the context of recent high-profile indictments of Trump's political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges.

In a tiny act of defiance, Boise, Idaho voters re-elected two City Council members who championed raising a rainbow pride flag outside City Hall, symbolizing the city's resilience as a blue dot in an increasingly crimson state.

Idaho, in recent years, has become one of the nation's strongest bastions of conservatism — and a magnet for hardcore MAGA fans, The New York Times wrote.

“I hear people moving here talking about themselves as ‘political refugees,’” Jason Monks, the Republican Idaho House majority leader, told the Times. The influx came particularly from blue state.

One of the re-elected Boise councillors, Council President Colin Nash, reflected on the political landscape, noting, "My wife's grandfather was in the Idaho Legislature in the '50s, and when you read his journal it's so eerie how the same conversations played out — except then they were talking red scares. Maybe now it's just a little more visible.

The influx of conservative newcomers into Idaho has dramatically reshaped the state's political landscape. As Cade Syvock, a Turning Point USA chapter leader, told the Times, "For us, it was mostly getting away from the threats and lawlessness. I love it here and plan to build my life here."

Syvock articulated the broader sentiment driving this migration: "I think it's basic human nature to want to be around people that think like you. Idaho has become like a safe haven for people who want to live free from government intervention and with neighbors who have traditional family values."

The political climate has created significant challenges for marginalized communities. Nicole Leahy, a transgender woman, observed, "By and large the people of Idaho are going to live and let live, but there are some people that are truly aggressive."

Kirsten Strough, a local LGBTQ community member, highlighted the growing tension: "Sometimes I just don't want to hold hands with my wife in public. Sometimes I'm going to pretend we're just friends."

Nash summed up his reelection as defiant stance in Boise toward state legislators: "We work cooperatively with the state on a lot of things, but this is just one issue where we need to agree to disagree," he said.

"I just hope that one person out there who needs to see it does."

President Donald Trump revealed a top aide's personal health secret while talking to Cabinet members in front of TV cameras Thursday.

During a discussion about weight loss medications, President Donald Trump unexpectedly singled out White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, publicly calling him out as a user of "fat drugs" — likely meaning Ozempic.

As Trump announced plans to reduce the cost of popular weight loss medications, he began an impromptu survey of his cabinet members and staff, asking about their potential usage of such drugs.

The president first turned to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, asking, "You taking any of this stuff Howard?"

Lutnick responded tersely, "Not yet."

Trump then commented on Dr. Mehmet Oz, noting, "Mehmet Oz, he doesn't take it."

Suddenly focusing on his communications director, Trump called out, "Where's Steve? Head of public relations for the White House. He's taking it."

Cheung was not in the room.

Donald Trump was ridiculed Thursday as he claimed to have discovered a "new word" — one that's in common usage but he's suddenly realized the importance of.

MSNBC's Steve Benen pointed out the president's sudden obsession with "affordability" — a word that marks a curious shift in his rhetorical strategy, particularly on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Until this week, "He literally never wrote a tweet that included the word 'affordability,'" Benen wrote.

But since the GOP was routed in elections Tuesday — with everyday costs being a central issue — he seems to have become obsessed, Benen wrote.

On Election Day 2025, Trump boldly proclaimed, "If affordability is your issue, VOTE REPUBLICAN! Energy costs, as an example, are plummeting." Despite his claims, energy costs are actually rising, not falling, Benen said.

Following Democratic election victories, Trump doubled down, declaring, "Affordability is our goal." He then launched into a passionate rant: "2025 Thanksgiving dinner under Trump is 25% lower than 2024 Thanksgiving dinner under Biden, according to Walmart. My cost are lower than the Democrats on everything, especially oil and gas! So the Democrats 'affordability' issue is DEAD! STOP LYING!!!"

In reality, Walmart simply reduced costs by decreasing the number of items and replacing brand-name products with cheaper alternatives - not through any White House intervention.

During a Fox News interview with Bret Baier, Trump made even more audacious claims. He asserted that he had brought energy costs "way down" and that grocery costs were also "way down" — both statements being demonstrably false.

Perhaps most tellingly, Trump claimed, "You know, they have this new word called 'affordability' and [Republicans] don't talk about it enough. The Democrats did."

The article argues that Trump's newfound focus on "affordability" is more rhetorical than substantive. Republicans can repeatedly use the word, but it won't change the fact that the party has failed to effectively address cost-of-living challenges, Benen wrote

Democrats' electoral success on Tuesday, Benen argues, came not from merely mentioning affordability, but by highlighting the GOP's substantial failures on the issue and offering genuine alternatives.

Trump officials admitted to making a math error when they drew up plans to cut SNAP funds.

After initially announcing plans to cut SNAP benefits by 50 percent as the government entered its second month of a shutdown, the USDA reversed course Wednesday, stating in court that it done its sums incorrectly, and would now be funding 75 percent.

A spokesperson told Axios Thursday, "Further analysis found more room in the contingency. All of this would be solved if Senate Democrats vote to reopen the government."

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities played a crucial role in this shift. It drew up a report revealing that the administration planned to release only two-thirds of the available contingency fund — approximately $3 billion out of $4.65 billion available.

The report was filed in court, with the government immediately promising to fix the "error."

"There’s no way to know whether the USDA made a genuine mistake or purposefully tried to shortchange families," The New Republic wrote.

The situation had further been complicated by President Trump's own statements on Truth Social, which suggested benefits would not be paid out at all. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly dismissed this as a misunderstanding

Some states viewed the administration's approach with skepticism. Pennsylvania, in a letter to the USDA, accused the agency of choosing the "most complex and labor-intensive approach possible" to issue benefits.

Critically, courts have already affirmed that the USDA has no legal requirement to cut benefits and had the money to continue funding them through the government shutdown, which is now in its second month.

President Donald Trump is being exploited by scheming aides who capitalize on the fact that he doesn't absorb essential information, his biographer said.

Michael Wolff — who spent nine months embedded in the White House in 2017 — told the Daily Beast he quickly discovered that the president doesn't have any interest in learning what he needs to know. Instead, he relies on those around him to be up to speed.

'He doesn't read," White House staffers told the author.

It's “the most information-intensive job in the world,” Wolff said, but “you can’t give him things to read, not even a paragraph.”

Wolff said that, from his first conversation with Trump, he noticed the president talking "inordinately long" to cover up his lack of detailed knowledge.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon reportedly described Trump as being "in a lifelong war against information."

Wolff claimed that the dynamic had led to those "smart in managing Trump" exploiting his lack of focus by pushing agendas in areas he doesn't pay attention to.

Trump's morning routine itself reveals his information consumption style. According to Wolff, he typically begins by having aides "rehash all of the television shows—which he has seen—and then analyze why whatever he has seen is, in fact, good for him." He doesn't start working in the Oval Office until around 11 a.m., he said.

Wolff described Trump's inner circle as a "world of would-be teachers' pets" who are constantly looking to take advantage of his disinterest. He noted that for Trump, "Bad news must become good news... and bad news that cannot become good news, then necessarily becomes a conspiracy against him."

Regarding New York's new mayor Zohran Mamdani, Wolff predicted an interesting dynamic: "I think Mamdani is in a perfect position to make Donald Trump his foil, rather than the other way around."

As the federal government shutdown continues, millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are facing potentially devastating cuts to their food assistance benefits — and it's sent anti-Donald Trump passion to new levels.

Taras Stratelak, a retiree in southern California, embodied the widespread anxiety, telling The Guardian, "I am housebound because I need a couple of spinal cord surgeries so this is really gonna hurt me because I cannot work, and thereby earn money to put food on the table."

Referencing common Republican rhetoric about federal aid, he wryly added, "I guess I'm lazy, or maybe I'm waste, fraud and abuse."

The Trump White House announced it would not fund SNAP as the government shutdown reached its second month, despite emergency funds being available. It agreed to just partial funding after two judges ordered its reinstatement.

Betty Standridge, a Wisconsin resident, highlighted the immediate impact. "Losing my SNAP benefits means I will not be able to replenish my food for the month, therefore I will do without things like fresh produce, milk, eggs."

Donna Lynn, a disabled veteran, described the impossible choices she'll face: "It comes down to paying for my medications and my bills or buying food for myself and for my animals. So I pay for my medications and bills and get what food I can for my animals, and if I have money left over, then I will eat.

"This is how the government treats their veterans – it's very sad."

Some recipients expressed deep frustration with political maneuvering surrounding the shutdown, and the sense that essential aid such as SNAP was being used as a pressure tool. Sandra, a Milwaukee retiree, feared this was part of a larger strategy, saying, "My sense is Trump will try to make SNAP benefits permanently end during the shutdown. I'm dumbfounded by the cruelty."

Steven from Wisconsin painted a stark picture of his reduced circumstances: "I've already reduced my intake since before SNAP was cut. Now it means no milk, no eggs, no vegetables, and definitely no meat." He dramatically compared the situation to a historical battle, calling it "like the siege of Stalingrad, but from your own government."

The most visceral response came from Bill, a 71-year-old from Grand Rapids, who colorfully expressed his anger: "How do I feel about it? I curse Donald Trump and his entire party of sycophants and lickspittles to the seven[th] circle of hell, now and for all time."

An NBC News poll underscores the public perception, with 52% blaming Trump and his allies for the shutdown, compared to 42% who fault the Democrats.

The White House is scrambling to have its official messaging over the end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments heard — but it's being drowned out by hateful braying from the MAGA crowd, according to an MSNBC columnist.

The Republican Party's stance on the benefits being cut Saturday as a government shutdown enters its second month is oscillating, wrote Ja'han Jones, with messaging swinging between feigned sympathy and outright contempt for recipients.

The Trump administration initially attempted to signal compassion, posting a message on the USDA website urging Democrats to "reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance."

But Jones wrote, "MAGA influencers were less inclined to paint the Democrats as the heartless ones."

The veneer of concern quickly crumbled as other Republican voices emerged, Jones wrote. Senator Tommy Tuberville claimed Democrats are "getting a little bit tight right now" over SNAP funding, specifically targeting "inner cities."

He then went on to complain about "a lot of young men on SNAP that should be working" — despite USDA data showing 39% of SNAP participants are children, 20% are elderly, and 10% are individuals with disabilities.

Representative Clay Higgins took an even more aggressive stance, arguing that SNAP recipients who haven't stockpiled a month's worth of food "should never again receive SNAP, because wow, stop smoking crack."

Trump ally Mike Davis unleashed particularly inflammatory rhetoric, writing: "Get off your fat, ghetto a--es. Get a job. Stop reproducing. Change your s---ty culture." He declared it "outrageous 40M people get food stamps."

Conservative podcaster Adam Carolla went so far as to mock potential hunger, claiming "nobody could benefit from a nice fast more than the SNAP recipients."

"The administration’s performative compassion hasn’t been embraced across the Republican Party or among conservative influencers," Jones wrote.

He concluded, "While some conservatives want to use the potential of SNAP recipients going hungry as a cudgel to force Democrats to give up their demands and end the government shutdown, that messaging is being clouded by more vocal conservatives who seem perfectly fine with — if not giddy about — the suffering of SNAP recipients," Jones wrote.

A horrifying threat casually uttered by Stephen Miller's wife has revealed a core new policy of the Trump administration, an analyst wrote for The Guardian Saturday.

Katie Miller, one half of a major power couple within the MAGA movement, made a threat to deport a naturalized U.S. citizen as she apparently came out on the losing side of an argument on Piers Morgan's YouTube show.

And The Guardian's Arwa Mahdawi warned that once unthinkable action seems to be fast becoming a central part of Trump administration policy.

The Miller's, she wrote, met and seemingly bonded over their shared approach to immigration policy during Donald Trump's first term. Katie Miller, then working as an immigration spokesperson, appeared to delight over the separation of immigrant families at the border — as most of the nation was repulsed by images of children in cages.

"DHS sent me to the border to see the separations for myself – to try to make me more compassionate – but it didn't work," she candidly told MSNBC's Jacob Soboroff in 2018. She even predicted her perspective wouldn't change, stating, "My family and colleagues told me that when I have kids I'll think about family separation differently. But I don't think so.

Now, with three children and Stephen serving as White House deputy chief of staff, Katie Miller has transitioned to podcasting about motherhood while maintaining her hardline political views, Mahdawi wrote.

During her appearance on Morgan's show this week, Miller erupted when confronted by commentator Cenk Uygur. "Quite frankly, I'm really sick and tired of this racist bigoted rhetoric that comes from people like you against my husband, against my family and my children," she yelled.

The confrontation escalated when Miller threatened Uygur, saying, "You better check your citizenship application and hope that everything was legal and correct."

"The bottom line is this," wrote Mahdawi. "The wife of the US homeland security adviser apparently threatened to denaturalize someone because she didn’t like the fact he criticized her."

She went on, "To be clear, Trump can’t legally take away the citizenship of someone born in the US. But as we all know by now, Trump rarely seems to look at the law as an impediment."

This incident reflects a broader trend within the MAGA movement of threatening critics with deportation or citizenship revocation. Representative Nancy Mace has even suggested deporting Representative Ilhan Omar "back to Somalia," The Guardian columnist wrote.

The Justice Department has already announced plans to prioritize efforts to strip some naturalized Americans of their citizenship, a policy that seems designed to intimidate political opponents.

The article concludes that Miller's threat was more than a personal attack, it was "a warning to everyone in America: criticize MAGA and there will be consequences."