It more and more seems that the Detained Child Hoax was set to be this yr’s Children in Cages- a catalyst for media-fueled outrage with which Elitist Media would try to browbeat Republicans showing on their reveals. However, as demonstrated on CBS’s Face the Nation, this doesn’t all the time work.
Watch as Brennan makes an attempt this emotional manipulation on Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise (R-LA), to little impact:
MARGARET BRENNAN: ICE detained a minimum of 5 youngsters, together with five-year-old Liam Ramos, who was taken into custody by males in masks. Does this image sound correct to you? Are you comfy with how that is being applied?
STEVE SCALISE: Let’s needless to say the 5 yr outdated’s father was right here illegally and was evading legislation enforcement and deserted his little one. ICE actually–
BRENNAN: –the family–
SCALISE: –protected the child–
BRENNAN: –The household disputes that. The administration has an issue with the earlier administration’s authorized system for asylum, that’s- they do not just like the app he used to file for asylum.
[CROSSTALK]
SCALISE: Nicely, Joe- Joe Biden allowed–
BRENNAN: –And so they dispute that he fled–.
SCALISE: –millions of individuals to come back into our nation illegally, together with very violent folks, Margaret–
BRENNAN: –However they’re retroactively attempting to vary the legality of the status–
SCALISE: –people from prisons in different nations. President Trump was elected. The primary situation final yr was President Trump saying–
BRENNAN: –Completely–
SCALISE: — I’ll safe the border, and he is doing it. But additionally he is eradicating violent folks. 416,000–
BRENNAN: –The daddy didn’t have a prison file of any type of violence–
SCALISE: –criminals- illegals have been arrested by ICE.
It may very well be fairly argued that the whole interview was an train in emotional manipulation. Brennan opened the interview by tying the present unrest to the taking pictures at a baseball subject that just about ended Scalise’s life. On the one hand, she’s right- they have been each perpetrated by radical leftists. On the other- Minnesota is about ongoing efforts to impede the implementation of federal legislation. Scalise rightly ignored Brennan’s body and proceeded to answer her query.
Brennan tried to pin Scalise down on polling and on the Second Modification (anticipate lots of media concern trolling on 2A), to no avail. Every time, Scalise would circle again to the distinctive circumstances of Minnesota’s troubles. Scalise additionally introduced up the large fraud investigation, which was barely lined (past CBS) to start with, and has now disappeared from the information.
It’s then that the interview closes with one ultimate alternate, precipitated by Brennan’s quotation of the Detained Children Hoax. It’s public data by now that the kids aren’t precise ICE targets, however the unlucky victims of their mother and father’ actions. Within the case of Liam, the oft-mentioned 5-year-old, ICE cared for him as a result of nobody else within the family stepped ahead to take custody. Per experiences, the brokers took him to McDonald’s, fed him, and cared for him till his father requested they be stored collectively. And they’re now collectively in a least-restrictive household detention facility.
That is very favorably comparable with what occurs to the kids of U.S. residents arrested by legislation enforcement. In these circumstances, the kid is held till custody is sorted out. However there are occasions when the kid goes into CPS custody. That is an angle not usually talked about within the media, and viewers are left to consider that that is some distinctive phenomena.
Scalise dealt with each Brennan and the Detained Children Hoax. As we’ve beforehand acknowledged, a lot of the protection of occasions in Minneapolis seems to be designed to form opinion somewhat than inform it.
Click on “broaden” to view the complete transcript of the aforementioned interview as aired on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, January twenty fifth, 2026:
BRENNAN: And we flip now to Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise, who joins us from New Orleans. Good morning to you.
STEVE SCALISE: Good morning, Margaret.
BRENNAN: I do know along with being a frontrunner in Congress, you will have this distinctive expertise of getting been the sufferer of political violence your self. You know the way harmful rhetoric might be. We have heard lots of anger up to now 24 hours, and your fellow Louisianan Senator Invoice Cassidy stated the occasions in Minneapolis aren’t solely extremely disturbing, however the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. He known as for a joint federal and state investigation. Would you be a part of his name?
SCALISE: Nicely, I do not query the credibility of ICE. They’re doing an extremely laborious job. They’re- look we’re all, simply remorseful about what occurred in Minneapolis. And this has occurred time and again. I imply, I am not simply speaking about relating to ICE. I imply, they have some failed native management. They let their metropolis burn down years in the past. They’ve chaos, it looks as if on a regular basis in locations the place different cities do not. ICE is working in lots of cities, Margaret, and you do not have these type of incidents in some other metropolis however Minneapolis–
BRENNAN: — You do not- do not see these numbers both?– .
SCALISE: — and so, I want yesterday did not occur. What’s that?
BRENNAN: You do not see these numbers both, although, after we checked out, for instance, on the federal response in New Orleans. I imply, it is only a fraction of the variety of federal brokers. Practically 3,000 is quite a bit for a metropolis the scale of Minneapolis.
SCALISE: Nicely, that is as a result of they did not get resistance in cities like New Orleans, the place, you realize, whenever you look in Minneapolis, and I simply listened to the chief, and you would hear him lamenting 4 instances, I believe he stated that they are strapped so skinny. And let’s have in mind, Minneapolis is a metropolis that defunded their police. That is not the chief’s fault. That is the failed Democrat chief’s fault. However on the similar time, once they defund the police, that leaves the chief stretched skinny. And so he- was decided to not help ICE– .
BRENNAN: — He was talking- he was speaking to- coping with the federal points. As a result of whenever you take a look at the Minnesota database, taking pictures victims down 76%, homicides down 67%, housebreaking down 39% year-to-date, intercourse offenses down, robberies down, motorized vehicle theft is up. So he was speaking in regards to the response- the deal that they’ve now, that the stretch they’ve now coping with the federal brokers who’re there.
SCALISE: Nicely, however bear in mind, these brokers have additionally arrested hundreds of violent criminals in Minneapolis. That is one of many causes that crime is down, and we’re seeing that throughout the nation. ICE- look once more, anytime one thing dangerous occurs, all of us lament that. I want it did not occur. However the rhetoric does must be toned down, however we additionally want to recollect, why is ICE doing this in cities? They’re imposing federal legislation, Margaret. The legislation says you may’t be right here illegally and for those who’re committing violent crimes. The President made it clear, in truth, he was elected. President Trump was elected to do away with criminals in our communities. 416,000 criminals have been arrested by ICE simply within the final yr. That has helped make our communities safer.
BRENNAN: Nicely, it is fascinating you carry up the politics of this, as a result of undoubtedly, the President was elected on the platform of immigration enforcement. There was lots of assist for it. However our newest ballot reveals greater than half of People say ICE is making communities much less secure, virtually two thirds of People say they dislike the President’s strategy to his deportation program. There may be not public assist for the best way this coverage is being applied. Do you assume there must be a reassessment?
SCALISE: Nicely, for those who requested folks in a ballot, would you like violent criminals which might be right here illegally in your neighborhood? Sure or no? What do you assume the reply goes to be? I’ll let you know, overwhelmingly, they may say, please get the violent criminals out. The truth is, you are seeing that on the bottom in lots of, many cities the place they’re cooperating with ICE, the place they do not have sanctuary metropolis insurance policies, and the place you do not see by the best way, folks going within the streets breaking the legislation to intrude with legislation enforcement, which is a felony.
BRENNAN: You’ve gotten been a supporter of the Second Modification. When Secretary Noem says, “I do not know of any peaceable protester that reveals up with a gun and ammo somewhat than an indication.” Do you consider People have the suitable to bear arms whereas they’re protesting?
SCALISE: Nicely, initially, I am a co-sponsor of Louisiana’s legislation that permits you to have a hid carry allow. It is labored very properly there. I do not know the state legislation in Minnesota. I do know in a state like Louisiana, and albeit, most states, you aren’t allowed to hold a gun when you’re committing one other crime and interfering with legislation enforcement is a felony. It is one thing that, sadly, we’re seeing in lots of cities. You even had the police chief yesterday, Chief O’Hara, that you just simply had on, yesterday stated of the protests occurring after the taking pictures, that they have been illegal. Sure, he really stated it was an illegal meeting, what lots of people are doing. And so they have been throwing issues at ICE brokers. Throwing projectiles that might hurt ICE agents–
BRENNAN: — Yeah, he wasn’t speaking in regards to the sufferer —
SCALISE: — So, let’s tone this down. And-and leaders in Minnesota, by the best way, have been ratcheting up the rhetoric. I imply, you noticed the governor, Governor Walz stated they’re Gestapo. He stated they’re violently hurting folks.
BRENNAN: I’ll should take this business break and allow you to end the thought on the opposite facet of it. When you may stick with us, Chief, we’ve got extra questions. We’ll be proper again.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face the Nation and Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise. Chief, we’ve got seen a letter that Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi despatched to Governor Walz out in Minnesota, providing to finish the federal surge if the state does quite a lot of issues, amongst them giving entry to the meals help applications and voter registration logs. What is the objective of that? What is the intent?
SCALISE: Nicely, I have not learn that letter between Pam Bondi and the governor, however I do know that we’re investigating tens of billions of {dollars} of potential fraud popping out of Minnesota. There have been hearings which have already been held. We have now lots of whistle blowers speaking to us about main theft of taxpayer cash popping out of Minnesota, and these are stealing applications from studying facilities, from disabled college students, applications which might be being stolen, and the Governor did nothing about it. Congress is–
BRENNAN:– However voter registration logs?–
SCALISE: — Investigating that aggressively.
BRENNAN: As a conservative, would not that make you somewhat uncomfortable that they are demanding the state hand- hand over voter registration logs like, what is the objective of that to finish ICE enforcement?
SCALISE: Nicely, I have not seen the letter. I do know- I do know we’re attempting in Congress to cope with placing legal guidelines on the books that can guarantee that we shield the integrity of the vote nationwide. States like Minnesota have had issues with voter integrity. We would like a nationwide commonplace, the SAVE Act, which makes positive illegals cannot vote, but in addition ensuring you present an image ID. These are issues we’re pushing for that is throughout the board federally.
BRENNAN: Non-citizens can’t vote. However I need to ask you ICE- about all of the issues which have occurred this week, even earlier than that taking pictures in Minnesota. ICE has stated his officers can go into properties with out judicial warrants. ICE shot unarmed Renee Good, as you realize, claimed that she was a home terrorist. An FBI agent resigned after she was ordered to not examine the officer who shot her. ICE detained a minimum of 5 youngsters, together with five-year-old Liam Ramos, who was taken into custody by males in masks. Does this image sound correct to you? Are you comfy with how that is being applied?
SCALISE: Let’s needless to say the 5 yr outdated’s father was right here illegally and was evading legislation enforcement and deserted his little one. ICE actually–
BRENNAN: –the family–
SCALISE: –protected the child–
BRENNAN: –The household disputes that. The administration has an issue with the earlier administration’s authorized system for asylum, that’s- they do not just like the app he used to file for asylum.
[CROSSTALK]
SCALISE: Nicely, Joe- Joe Biden allowed–
BRENNAN: –And so they dispute that he fled–.
SCALISE: –millions of individuals to come back into our nation illegally, together with very violent folks, Margaret–
BRENNAN: –However they’re retroactively attempting to vary the legality of the status–
SCALISE: –people from prisons in different nations. President Trump was elected. The primary situation final yr was President Trump saying–
BRENNAN: –Completely–
SCALISE: — I’ll safe the border, and he is doing it. But additionally he is eradicating violent folks. 416,000–
BRENNAN: –The daddy didn’t have a prison file of any type of violence–
SCALISE: –criminals- illegals have been arrested by ICE. 416,000 have been arrested by ICE. These are very dangerous folks, by the way–
BRENNAN: 47% of ICE detainees have prison costs or convictions. 47%.
SCALISE: –ICE simply put up an internet site. Not ICE, Homeland Safety, worst of the worst DHS. Go Google worst of the worst DHS. State by state, they present you all of the folks which have been picked up in every state. Your state, you could find out horrible folks, murderers, rapists, that they picked up that might be on the street–
BRENNAN: –That does not apply to the daddy or five-year-old Liam–
SCALISE: –today if President Trump wasn’t securing this nation.
BRENNAN: –or the 2 yr outdated who was separated from her mom.
SCALISE: –that father was right here illegally and deserted his child–
BRENNAN: They aren’t the worst of the worst, are they?
SCALISE: –Go take a look at the web site. It reveals you who they picked up–
BRENNAN: –Are they the worst of the worst, sir?
SCALISE: 416,000 folks with violent prison information. These are people- and by the best way, America at present has the bottom homicide charge that we have had since 1900 partially due to President Trump’s actions to get these violent folks off our streets. 416,000 have been eliminated. Would you like them nonetheless out on our streets?
BRENNAN: No.
SCALISE: I do not assume most individuals do.
BRENNAN: No and I do not think–
SCALISE: –This can be a laborious job ICE has.
BRENNAN: –They do, indeed–
SCALISE: And native legislation enforcement, native officers, the mayor, the governor, shouldn’t be encouraging folks to exit on the streets and break the legislation by interfering with legislation enforcement. That is a felony to intrude with legislation enforcement–
BRENNAN: –And Americans are involved about Americans being shot, and that is why we’re asking the questions–
SCALISE: Yeah, and we do not have that chaos in different cities.
BRENNAN: -about the tax payer funded federal–
SCALISE: –Minneapolis has its personal problems–
BRENNAN: Okay.
SCALISE: –failed management that has led to lots of this, and it is unlucky it occurred. I want it did not occur. Their failed leaders have to look within the mirror and tone it down.
BRENNAN: I’ve to go subsequent to our subsequent visitor. Chief Steve Scalise, thanks on your time at present.
