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(THREAD) Trump's federal deployments appear to be election interference ops. They target Democratic cities in battleground/purple states:
FL (Jacksonville)
MI (Detroit)
PA (Philadelphia)
MO (KC)
OH (Cleveland)
WI (Milwaukee)
I hope you'll read on and retweet.
FL (Jacksonville) MI (Detroit) PA (Philadelphia) MO (KC) OH (Cleveland) WI (Milwaukee)I hope you'll read on and retweet.
1/ Trump has made clear:
He's exclusively targeting cities run by Democrats.
His actions aim to embarrass the Democratic Party.
His deployments are intended to dovetail with his anti-crime campaign rhetoric, which focuses on Democrats alleged inability to control crime.
He's exclusively targeting cities run by Democrats. His actions aim to embarrass the Democratic Party. His deployments are intended to dovetail with his anti-crime campaign rhetoric, which focuses on Democrats alleged inability to control crime.
2/ But in covering these historical federal deployments, media has thought too littleâironicallyâabout media markets. If police clash with protesters in NYC, it does *not* make the news in Ohio the same way police clashing with protesters in Cleveland would make the news in Ohio.
3/ By the same token, to the extent certain of these deployments are allegedly intended as "classic crime-fighting" missionsâto use AG Bill Barr's wordsâthey imply that certain states, mostly *battleground states*, are criminal hotbeds because of Democratic politicians' actions.
4/ But we already know that both Trump *and* Bill Barr are lying about the necessity of these missions. Yesterday, Ali Velshi of MSNBC reported on the THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW that while Barr claimed 200 arrests had been made in Kansas City, the true total was...
...one. Just one.
...one. Just one.
5/ Now *that's* odd. Why would Barr *overstate* crime in a battleground state? Specifically, in a city run by a Democrat in a battleground state? Well, look at the presidential polling map below and you'll see a highly probable answer, based on Barr's rhetoric and Donald Trump's:
6/ And now, today, we have Donald Trump putting out one of the most monstrous tweets in presidential history: a tweet aimed at telling suburban whites that he has rescinded an order by a black presidentâand Joe Bidenâthat put more Black people and crime into their neighborhoods:
7/ We also have, today, another piece of startling news that at first blush seemed like good news; now I'm not so sure. Trump willâallegedlyâbe pulling federal troops from Oregon...
...which isn't a battleground state.
But this is merely a *redeployment* to battleground states.
...which isn't a battleground state.
But this is merely a *redeployment* to battleground states.
8/ I'm reminded, too, of AG Barr testifying under oath yesterday that the *only* reason he's starting missions in battleground states *right* as Trump's 2020 campaign pivots to an anti-crime message is COVID-19. He says he actually initiated Operation Relentless Pursuit in 2019.
9/ If you're pretty confused by the timeline here, you should be. Barr announced Relentless Pursuit on December 18âthe day Trump was impeached. That's also *three months* before COVID-19 should have disrupted in any significant way this major new DOJ initiative. So what happened?
10/ Questions Barr's testimony raises:
Why did he announce Operation Legend at the same time Trump pivoted to an anti-crime messageâif Operation Relentless Pursuit was already extant and with the same aim?
Why does he now claim Relentless Pursuit did *nothing* in 3 months?
Why did he announce Operation Legend at the same time Trump pivoted to an anti-crime messageâif Operation Relentless Pursuit was already extant and with the same aim? Why does he now claim Relentless Pursuit did *nothing* in 3 months?
11/ To be clear, yes, we've heard of potential federal operations targeting non-battlegrounds NYC and Chicagoâtwo of the nation's three largest cities (the third, LA, is in the midst of a massive COVID-19 outbreak, and few folks are outside)âas well as Seattle, a liberal bastion.
12/ We must wait to see if such less-politically-useful deploymentsâstill targeting "Democratic" citiesâmaterialize. But due to the size of these cities, they're the most likely to get major pressâand federal agent-citizen clashes are the most likely to be large and camera-ready.
13/ What's most important, now, is for media to *wake up*. These deployments carry all the trapping of a *campaign advertising strategy*.
Trump himself has made clear that they are about politically framing his Democratic opponent and his party. Barr has already lied about them.
Trump himself has made clear that they are about politically framing his Democratic opponent and his party. Barr has already lied about them.
14/ I know media is still focused on distinguishing between PACTâa new initiative to patrol federal grounds, which led to the Portland clashesâand Operation Legend (a "classic crime-fighting initiative").
But the presence of "Legend" in a city can lead to mass protestsâand PACT.
But the presence of "Legend" in a city can lead to mass protestsâand PACT.
15/ That Barr is already lying about the timing, necessity, utility and success of Operation Legendâas well as how perfectly it was synchronized with the rollout of Trump's new campaign themeâtells us that federal agents executing Operation Legend *won't* be hiding in back rooms.
16/ All it'll take is one high-profile arrest of a Black citizen by federal agents in Detroit, Milwaukee, Philadelphia or elsewhereâarrests that would've never happened, and for which no clear authority would've existed, pre-Legendâfor protests to arise in that city/media market.
17/ Trump and Barr have the bully pulpit they needâand authority to distribute resourcesâto draw Americans' attention to any protest they like. Trump's campaign media arm will immediately turn battleground-state events into commercials.
As *all of this is a campaign commercial*.
As *all of this is a campaign commercial*.
18/ So what should media do?
Research the *actual crime rates* in these cities.
Demand data on the *effectiveness* of Trump's actions.
Map *where* federal agents deploy nationally.
Map where agents appear *within* cities.
Cover local and state *legal pushback*.
Research the *actual crime rates* in these cities. Demand data on the *effectiveness* of Trump's actions. Map *where* federal agents deploy nationally. Map where agents appear *within* cities. Cover local and state *legal pushback*.
19/ And, just as importantly:
Do *not* frame these actions are necessary, warranted, or justâindeed, do not frame these actions as anything but a "campaign stunt"âunless and until we have hard data on *why* certain cities are being targeted and the *utility* of these actions.
Do *not* frame these actions are necessary, warranted, or justâindeed, do not frame these actions as anything but a "campaign stunt"âunless and until we have hard data on *why* certain cities are being targeted and the *utility* of these actions.
20/ This thread would've predicted that federal agents would leave Seattle, as it offers Trump the least political benefit of any city he wants to send federal agents to for "campaign stunt" purposes. And guess what I just saw, as I was ending this thread: https://twitter.com/GovInslee/status/1288218711573159942?s=20
PS/ Media must also cover evidence from Minneapolis, Richmond and other capitals that many of the "left-wing riots" Barr uses to justify his actions are in fact instigated by Trumpists. As Trumpists increasingly see what Trump is doing as a political stunt, they'll try to *help*.
NOTE/ Those who write thinkpieces must take a longer view: Trump has spent months coddling QAnon, those talking of Civil War, and Trumpists who arm themselves for protests. Now he lets his fans see they can help him byâwho would've guessed!âinstigating violence. Write about that.
WATCHLIST/ Media should also develop a watchlist of "battleground cities" whereâif Trump announces deployments thereâit substantiates any claim this is a political stunt. The "watchlist" cities left:
SENATE BATTLEGROUND
Atlanta
Charlotte
Denver
Phoenix
POTUS BATTLEGROUND
Miami
SENATE BATTLEGROUND
Atlanta
Charlotte
Denver
Phoenix
POTUS BATTLEGROUND
Miami
WATCHLIST2/ Having said that, we don't know if Trump's apparent plan covers Senate battlegroundsâhe seems mostly concerned with his own political survivalâand Miami is a COVID-19 hotspot (and Trump already has plans to enter Florida via Jacksonville) so Miami may be a nonstarter.
WATCHLIST3/ In other words, with Trump out of Seattle now (per Inslee) and soon out of Portlandâand with Los Angeles and Miami being unwise deployments due to COVID-19âTrump may actually now be hitting *all* the necessary "political stunt" cities. And, indeed, *only* such cities.
SOURCES2/ Why didn't Operation Relentless Pursuit (December 2019) send agents to these states in 2019? Or in the 3 months the op was extant pre-COVID-19? Media must ask why this is happening *now*âunder Operation Legendâwhich dovetails with Trump rhetoric. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/07/29/operation-legend-doj-to-send-officers-to-detroit-cleveland-milwaukee/5535490002/
SOURCES5/ Good info here:
Violent crime is decreasing.
Trump will also enter the battleground state of New Mexico.
The Trump camp won't provide accurate data to substantiate its moves.
 All this "dovetails with Trump's election-year rhetoric." https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/29/justice-department-law-enforcement-presence-trump-386276
Violent crime is decreasing. Trump will also enter the battleground state of New Mexico. The Trump camp won't provide accurate data to substantiate its moves. All this "dovetails with Trump's election-year rhetoric." https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/29/justice-department-law-enforcement-presence-trump-386276
