When even MSNBC can’t keep it together, you know the Democratic Party has driven off the cliff and into political absurdity. That’s exactly what unfolded this week when California Governor Gavin Newsom casually brushed off the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a known MS-13 gang member, as a mere “distraction.” What followed was a live televised meltdown that exposed the deep fractures inside the Left—and a growing crisis of credibility for Democrats who seem more focused on defending violent criminals than protecting Americans.
The panel, led by host Jonathan Capehart, erupted into chaos. Capehart, a longtime liberal media figure, appeared visibly exasperated—not with Republicans, but with his own party. He slammed Democrats for insisting the country “focus on this one particular issue,” even as multiple crises—from border security to economic instability—rage on simultaneously. “The entire house is on fire,” he shouted, “and you’re gonna say, ‘oh, we should save the sofa’? No!”
That’s not exactly the message of a united front.
Capehart’s frustration reflects something bigger than cable news bickering. It’s the visible crack-up of a Democratic Party that can no longer agree on the basics—like whether it’s okay to deport violent gang members who entered the country illegally.
Newsom’s downplaying of the Garcia case struck a nerve, not because he said something shocking, but because he gave away the game: for the Democrat establishment, this is all political theater. Garcia? Just a pawn in the narrative. MS-13? A footnote. Public safety? Background noise.
Don’t be distracted. The Trump Administration’s refusal to obey court rulings needs to be called out.
This is foundational to the rule of law and what our country stands for. pic.twitter.com/WEG9pTho5t
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) April 18, 2025
But Republicans weren’t about to let it slide. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) torched Newsom’s dismissal as “bullcrap,” reminding the public that this isn’t just about optics—it’s about what kind of country we’re trying to be. “You don’t get to call this a distraction,” Walsh said. “This is about keeping Americans safe from criminals that Democrats are now actively trying to re-import.”
Then there’s Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), doubling down on the Left’s legal crusade for Abrego Garcia—yes, the same man with MS-13 tattooed on his knuckles and a trail of abuse allegations behind him.
Van Hollen had the audacity to argue that defending this man’s “constitutional rights” is now the litmus test for holding public office. Never mind that he’s not a U.S. citizen, never mind his history. According to Van Hollen, if you’re not fighting to bring him back to the United States, you’re unfit to lead.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get more farcical, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele calmly informed Washington that he would not be sending Garcia back. That’s right—even a foreign government is more grounded in reality than the Democratic Party at this point.
