Deadline Poet / February 20, 2024

The Border Bill, Republican Congressmen, and Trump

Calvin Trillin
A US border patrol agent on patrol near La Joya, Tex., 2013.
A US border patrol agent on patrol near La Joya, Tex., 2013. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

Securing the border was key to the bill.
They liked that—until they got orders to kill.
They still say “How high?” when he tells them to jump.
They’ve still not applied for asylum from Trump.

Can we count on you?

In the coming election, the fate of our democracy and fundamental civil rights are on the ballot. The conservative architects of Project 2025 are scheming to institutionalize Donald Trump’s authoritarian vision across all levels of government if he should win.

We’ve already seen events that fill us with both dread and cautious optimism—throughout it all, The Nation has been a bulwark against misinformation and an advocate for bold, principled perspectives. Our dedicated writers have sat down with Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders for interviews, unpacked the shallow right-wing populist appeals of J.D. Vance, and debated the pathway for a Democratic victory in November.

Stories like these and the one you just read are vital at this critical juncture in our country’s history. Now more than ever, we need clear-eyed and deeply reported independent journalism to make sense of the headlines and sort fact from fiction. Donate today and join our 160-year legacy of speaking truth to power and uplifting the voices of grassroots advocates.

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Thank you,
The Editors of The Nation

Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation’s “deadline poet.”

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