Source: The New Republic
In a week that showcased political bafflement, we had the privilege of witnessing the spectacularly misguided actions of Stephen Miller, Jeff Landry, and Bari Weiss—the trifecta of absurdity in the realm of governance and media.
Stephen Miller Loses It Again
White House advisor Stephen Miller had quite the meltdown after a federal jury decided not to convict Bobby Nunez, a tow truck driver in Los Angeles charged with "stealing" an SUV belonging to ICE. Nunez had merely towed the vehicle when it was blocking a driveway—hardly a crime worth the ire of the deputy chief of staff.
The prosecution alleged that Nunez interfered with ICE's aggressive arrest of a Colombian woman suspected of being undocumented, implying that he had somehow obstructed justice. Nunez's legal team countered that moving the vehicle was a reasonable response to a public nuisance, noting that the SUV was returned to the agents within a mere 13 minutes after moving it just one block away. Yet, Miller erupted on social media, decrying “blatant jury nullification” and linking it inexplicably to “mass migration” threatening the legal fabric of our society.
This incident reflects not only Miller's fragile grasp on logic but also the ongoing trend of the Trump administration to pursue weak cases against individuals standing up against immigration enforcement. It serves as a reminder that when the law veers into the realm of absurdity, it’s often the hyperbolic voices like Miller’s that further convolute the conversation.
New Trump Envoy Declares His Goal Is to Make Greenland American
Meanwhile, in another chapter of political farce, President Trump’s new special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, proudly proclaimed his mission to make Greenland a U.S. territory. In a whimsical assertion that could have come straight from a sitcom script, Landry tweeted his enthusiasm for this “volunteer position,” seemingly overlooking the fact that Greenland is not merely a bargaining chip in Trump’s geopolitical game but an autonomous territory of Denmark.
Trump’s justification of this colonial ambition was shrouded in “international security” rhetoric, though savvy observers suspect ulterior motives linked to Greenland’s untapped resources. Critiques flooded in, including from political science professor Michael McFaul, who sagely pointed out the absurdity of the U.S. claiming a foreign nation while ignoring the respect owed to our allies.
As Denmark promptly summoned the U.S. ambassador to protest this grandstanding, it became clear that Landry's misguided ambition added another layer of absurdity to an already flamboyant administration.
Bari Weiss Doubles Down on Stupidity Over Scrapped 60 Minutes Story
On the media front, Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, provided a masterclass in poor judgment by scrapping a 60 Minutes segment about the deportations conducted under the Trump administration. Her rationale? The segment was “not ready” until the administration agreed to comment. This decision underscores a troubling trend in journalism where the government’s silence can dictate editorial choices, effectively transforming a news outlet into a mouthpiece for state narratives.
Weiss’s remarks during an internal call reflected a mindset more concerned with maintaining favor with the powerful than with upholding journalistic integrity. As colleagues pointed out, this approach undermines the very purpose of investigative reporting. A leaked email from correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi highlighted the absurdity of expecting compliance from a government hostile to negative scrutiny.
In this triad of political missteps, we confront a peculiar brand of folly—a reminder that in the arenas of government and media, ignorance can sometimes attain centers of power. Whether through tantrums at the podium, grandiose territorial claims, or the muzzling of critical journalism, we stand witness to a convergence of the dumb, the dumber, and the dumbest—a scenario far too real for comfort.
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