The Democratic Party is still reeling from being crushed by Donald Trump in the 2024 election, and they only have themselves to blame. Throughout 2023 and 2024, they frantically insisted that, actually, Joe Biden has never been sharper and more perceptive, and that the multiple videos and accounts of him looking confused and lost were just cruel editing tricks.
All that lying led to the excruciating Presidential debate, the rushed installation of Kamala Harris as nominee and… well, you know the rest of the story. A sensible political party might decide that a lot needs to change, but the same old dusty corporate centrist octogenarians are refusing to relinquish their iron grip on the levers of power.
But, finally, a Democrat has actually done something. I know! We’re shocked too! Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen was clearly disturbed by ICE agents kidnapping Kilmar Abrego Garcia and, trampling all over due process, mistakenly tossing him into the El Salvador nightmare prison.
Over the last few days, Van Hollen has been in El Salvador putting pressure on the government to let him at least see Garcia. He was initially stonewalled at every turn: he was told he could not see or even speak to Garcia over the phone. But he persisted and succeeded, confirming that he’s alive and passing on messages from his loved ones:
I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. pic.twitter.com/U9y2gZpxCb
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 18, 2025
Now, let’s not celebrate yet. Garcia remains in the CECOT prison, despite the Supreme Court ordering that he be returned to the United States immediately. Even so, the positive reaction to a Democrat Senator actually achieving something other than hot air speeches and haughtily insulting young people is deeply refreshing:
first good thing a dem has done in a while. van hollen has been better than his peers. https://t.co/7eJcJfxhd4
— jameel (@jameeliscool) April 18, 2025
van hollen has got to be the first democrat since like LBJ to actually do something with his power as an elected.
— red philly (picket line respecter) (@vvage_labor) April 18, 2025
Totally agree—Senator Van Hollen has always been steady, thoughtful, and deeply committed to Maryland, even when he wasn’t grabbing headlines. It’s been impressive to see him step up even more forcefully in this political climate. Trump 2.0 has definitely sharpened the lines,
— Carol Rey🇺🇸🇨🇦🇬🇧 (@thopkins147) April 18, 2025
Yes. There are still hundreds of men deported to El Salvador that are being detained in CECOT through a illegal contract paid for by the U.S. government.
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) April 18, 2025
Senator Van Hollen has showed that they too can be accessed. We can't forget about them. https://t.co/smiojWbizA
Huge credit to Van Hollen on this, the opposite of Schumer's playing possum strategy. https://t.co/EZTDmBKfrR
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) April 18, 2025
Despite this good press, it’s safe to assume that Democratic Party higher-ups are absolutely furious with Van Hollen right now. After all, if a Democratic Senator has actually done something, it makes their usual do-nothing protests look all the more performative.
This also drives a stake into the heart of the lie that Garcia cannot be reached or removed. As Van Hollen has met with him, we now know El Salvador will actually bend to the demands of the U.S. Government (I mean, duh), and it’s possible to get these Garcia and the other wrongly removed men back on a plane to the United States.
Published: Apr 18, 2025 05:20 am