Transcription
Actually, being arrested when all in starts. Arrested when all in starts right now. Right now.
Good evening from New. Good evening from New. York, I'm Chris Hayes. The York, I'm Chris Hayes. The modern Republican Party under modern Republican Party under Donald Trump is an. Donald Trump is an. Increasingly extreme increasingly extreme organization. It's trafficking organization. It's trafficking in some of the worst, most in some of the worst, most disgusting, hateful bigotry, disgusting, hateful bigotry, racism, anti-semitism. It's racism, anti-semitism. It's been part of their public been part of their public pronouncements. And we're pronouncements. And we're learning it's even worse behind learning it's even worse behind closed doors. Just yesterday, closed doors. Just yesterday, Politico published some private Politico published some private chat messages from about a chat messages from about a dozen leaders of the Young dozen leaders of the Young Republican group across the Republican group across the country. MSNBC has not country. MSNBC has not independently verified those independently verified those chats, but Politico's reporting chats, but Politico's reporting revealed a culture where racist, revealed a culture where racist, anti-semitic and violent anti-semitic and violent rhetoric circulate freely. This rhetoric circulate freely. This was horrible. Gross stuff, and was horrible. Gross stuff, and it didn't happen in. It didn't happen in.
A vacuum. A vacuum.
I mean, the rhetoric here is. I mean, the rhetoric here is. A core. A core. Part of the formation of an part of the formation of an entire subsection, a whole MAGA entire subsection, a whole MAGA centric cohort of conservatives. centric cohort of conservatives. And when the news of these And when the news of these chats broke yesterday, you saw chats broke yesterday, you saw a really interesting dynamic a really interesting dynamic playing out. So some playing out. So some Republicans, different levels Republicans, different levels in in different parts of the in different parts of the country did, I think the country did, I think the natural thing, which was move natural thing, which was move to condemn what they read, to condemn what they read, condemn the chat members, many condemn the chat members, many of the people on that chat were. of the people on that chat were.
Fired or had job offers fired or had job offers rescinded. The Black rescinded. The Black Conservative Federation, for Conservative Federation, for instance, said, quote, let us instance, said, quote, let us be absolutely clear racism is be absolutely clear racism is not conservatism. Bigotry, not conservatism. Bigotry, hatred and moral rot dressed up hatred and moral rot dressed up as jokes.
Or free speech. Are the very evils that our are the very evils that our movement must reject with moral movement must reject with moral clarity. The group called on clarity. The group called on every Republican leader, from every Republican leader, from national figures to grassroots national figures to grassroots activists, to denounce his activists, to denounce his behavior without hesitation or behavior without hesitation or excuse. And again, to be fair, excuse. And again, to be fair, many Republicans were doing many Republicans were doing that until well, until. That until well, until.
Yesterday into today when. Yesterday into today when.
Someone wrote. Someone wrote.
In to stop them. When in to stop them. When Trump's Vice President. Trump's Vice President.
Said, quit it, leave the kids alone. Said, quit it, leave the kids alone.
JD Vance is himself a JD Vance is himself a creature of this extremely creature of this extremely online right-wing underworld. online right-wing underworld. One wonders what's in his chat, One wonders what's in his chat, where he gained notoriety last where he gained notoriety last year for following lots of year for following lots of white supremacist accounts, white supremacist accounts, including a self-proclaimed including a self-proclaimed historian who praised Hitler historian who praised Hitler and claimed that Winston and claimed that Winston Churchill was the chief villain Churchill was the chief villain of World War Two. He still of World War Two. He still follows those accounts to this follows those accounts to this day, and maybe he just likes day, and maybe he just likes to read widely. Today, vice to read widely. Today, vice president JD Vance did the president JD Vance did the thing that he always does. It's thing that he always does. It's the, "Oh, just get over it." the, "Oh, just get over it." approach. approach.
By focusing on. By focusing on.
What. What.
Kids are saying in a group kids are saying in a group chat. chat.
Grow up. Grow up.
I'm sorry. Focus on the real I'm sorry. Focus on the real issues. Don't focus on what issues. Don't focus on what kids say in group chats. If you kids say in group chats. If you put something in a group chat, put something in a group chat, assume that some scumbag is assume that some scumbag is going to leak it in an effort going to leak it in an effort to try to cause you harm or to try to cause you harm or cause your family harm. But the cause your family harm. But the reality is that kids do stupid reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys. things, especially young boys. They tell edgy, offensive jokes. They tell edgy, offensive jokes. Like that's what. Like that's what.
Kids do. Kids do.
That's what kids do. Kids. That's what kids do. Kids. Young boys, young boys tell young boys, young boys tell edgy jokes. Now, just to be edgy jokes. Now, just to be clear, the members of the Young clear, the members of the Young Republicans are not nine years Republicans are not nine years old and they are not 15 or 16. old and they are not 15 or 16. In fact, they range in age from In fact, they range in age from 18 to 40. JD Vance is 41. The 18 to 40. JD Vance is 41. The people in this chat weren't people in this chat weren't young boys. They weren't kids. young boys. They weren't kids.
They were. They were.
Career Republican political career Republican political operatives in their mid-20s and operatives in their mid-20s and mid-30s, otherwise known as mid-30s, otherwise known as adults or grown-ups, or fully adults or grown-ups, or fully formed moral agents responsible formed moral agents responsible for their actions. Like Peter for their actions. Like Peter Giunta. He's one of them. Giunta. He's one of them. Until today, he was the chief of Until today, he was the chief of staff for New York Republican staff for New York Republican state legislator Michael Riley. state legislator Michael Riley. Giunta worked for the Giunta worked for the assemblyman for five years. assemblyman for five years. When the chair of the Arizona When the chair of the Arizona Young Republicans asked if the Young Republicans asked if the New Yorkers in the chat were New Yorkers in the chat were watching an NBA playoff game. watching an NBA playoff game. Giunta responded, "I'd go to the Giunta responded, "I'd go to the zoo if I wanted to watch monkey zoo if I wanted to watch monkey play ball." Not a child, not a play ball." Not a child, not a young kid, a grown man. And young kid, a grown man. And again, he chose to say that. Again, he chose to say that that's his right. In America, that's his right. In America, you can say that. He also you can say that. He also ridiculed Black people, Indian ridiculed Black people, Indian women, female and nonwhite women, female and nonwhite pilots and wrote, quote, "I love pilots and wrote, quote, "I love Hitler." He threatened that Hitler." He threatened that anyone who voted against him in anyone who voted against him in an upcoming election is, quote, an upcoming election is, quote, going to the gas chamber again. going to the gas chamber again. JD Vance thinks he's a young JD Vance thinks he's a young boy or a kid and that these are boy or a kid and that these are edgy jokes. Giunta has since edgy jokes. Giunta has since been fired. He has also been fired. He has also apologized, said the chats, apologized, said the chats, released as by a rival as part released as by a rival as part of character assassination. of character assassination.
Then you've got William Then you've got William Hendricks. That's the Kansas Hendricks. That's the Kansas Young Republicans vice chair. Young Republicans vice chair. At 24, he was one of the At 24, he was one of the youngest chat members. Again, 24, youngest chat members. Again, 24, grown adult. Now, Politico says grown adult. Now, Politico says Hendricks used variations of Hendricks used variations of the N-word more than a dozen the N-word more than a dozen times in those chats. Hendricks times in those chats. Hendricks also used an anti-gay slur also used an anti-gay slur deployed, deployed racist deployed, deployed racist expressions we won't repeat expressions we won't repeat here. He was also a full-time here. He was also a full-time communications assistant for communications assistant for Kansas Republican Attorney Kansas Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach until he General Kris Kobach until he was fired yesterday. Hendricks was fired yesterday. Hendricks didn't return Politico's didn't return Politico's request for comment. These guys request for comment. These guys are not alone. Other members are not alone. Other members include a sitting Vermont state include a sitting Vermont state senator. Turns out you can't senator. Turns out you can't elect little boys to be a state elect little boys to be a state senator. This state senator. senator. This state senator suggested in the chat that suggested in the chat that nonwhite women didn't bathe, nonwhite women didn't bathe, and a Catholic high school and a Catholic high school counselor who responded to a counselor who responded to a gas chamber remark with the gas chamber remark with the retort, quote, "I'm ready to the retort, quote, "I'm ready to watch people burn now." She has watch people burn now." She has since lost her job as a since lost her job as a counselor. Again, these are the counselor. Again, these are the people JD Vance went to bat for people JD Vance went to bat for today. Adults, grown-ups, today. Adults, grown-ups, people who work in politics. people who work in politics.
The whole point here is to send the whole point here is to send the message from JD Vance. This the message from JD Vance. This behavior is good. Fine. behavior is good. Fine. Actually encouraged. It's part actually encouraged. It's part of what defines you as part of of what defines you as part of this in-group. Like being an this in-group. Like being an edgy edgelord who makes edgy edgelord who makes offensive jokes that it will offensive jokes that it will be defended by Republicans in the be defended by Republicans in the absolute highest offices, not absolute highest offices, not by Democrats like New York by Democrats like New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who will Governor Kathy Hochul, who will be hearing be hearing from be hearing will be hearing from later in the show. later in the show.
Some bad apples. Some bad apples.
These are the. These are the.
Future of the. Future of the.
Republican Party. Republican Party.
This was so vile. This was so vile.
It is hard to find the words. It is hard to find the words.
To put into context. To put into context.
This is not one. This is not one.
Person saying they love person saying they love Hitler. Hitler.
This is a whole lot. This is a whole lot.
Of people. Of people.
Saying things. Saying things.
That. That.
Are so disgusting and. Are so disgusting and.
So. So.
Abhorrent that everybody abhorrent that everybody from the President on down should from the President on down should.
Condemn them. Condemn them.
There needs to be. There needs to be.
Consequences. Consequences.
This has to stop. This has to stop.
I happen to agree. The I happen to agree. The problem is this is part of the problem is this is part of the ideological formation of the ideological formation of the new MAGA vanguard to to kind of just soak your brain, right. just soak your brain, right. Marinate it in the most marinate it in the most extremist, discredited, extremist, discredited, destructive views in all of destructive views in all of human history, right. Start human history, right. Start with flirting with ideas like with flirting with ideas like maybe Hitler had a point, then maybe Hitler had a point, then you're just kind of playing you're just kind of playing around with outright Nazism, around with outright Nazism, and then before you know it, and then before you know it, maybe it's not so ironic maybe it's not so ironic anymore. In fact, on that topic, anymore. In fact, on that topic, this is kind of an odd one this is kind of an odd one today. A Nazi swastika today. A Nazi swastika superimposed on an American superimposed on an American flag was found displayed on a flag was found displayed on a bulletin board in a Republican bulletin board in a Republican congressman's office in Capitol congressman's office in Capitol Hill. And according to Politico, Hill. And according to Politico, that swastika, you see, there that swastika, you see, there was visible participants in an was visible participants in an online meeting on the cubicle online meeting on the cubicle wall behind a congressional wall behind a congressional staffer for Republican staffer for Republican Congressman Dave Taylor of Ohio. Congressman Dave Taylor of Ohio. Staffer has not responded to Staffer has not responded to requests for comment. requests for comment. A spokesperson for Taylor said A spokesperson for Taylor said the Congressman believed the the Congressman believed the swastika ended up in his office swastika ended up in his office as a result of, quote, foul as a result of, quote, foul play or vandalism, and he play or vandalism, and he called for the Capitol Police called for the Capitol Police to investigate. We'll let you to investigate. We'll let you know if they crack the case on know if they crack the case on that one. This stuff doesn't that one. This stuff doesn't just permeate the culture of just permeate the culture of conservatism at this moment. conservatism at this moment. It is the culture. It is the culture. By and large, these are By and large, these are JD Vance Republicans, JD Vance Republicans, and they are executing an and they are executing an agenda for Donald Trump that agenda for Donald Trump that you can see when masked armed you can see when masked armed men grab nonwhite people off of men grab nonwhite people off of American streets at the very American streets at the very same time that an army of same time that an army of lawyers are attempting to undo lawyers are attempting to undo decades of civil rights laws decades of civil rights laws and protections. You see it in and protections. You see it in the racist tropes being used in the racist tropes being used in propaganda by Trump's propaganda by Trump's Department of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, including using terminology including using terminology like "invasion" and "cultural like "invasion" and "cultural decline" and "re-migration," decline" and "re-migration," a term that was coined by white a term that was coined by white supremacists in Europe to supremacists in Europe to replace a more direct term replace a more direct term "ethnic cleansing." You see it in "ethnic cleansing." You see it in new reporting by The New York new reporting by The New York Times today, on a Trump plan Times today, on a Trump plan for radical overhaul of the U.S. for radical overhaul of the U.S. refugee system, one that would refugee system, one that would slash the program to its bare slash the program to its bare bones while giving preference bones while giving preference to English speakers, white to English speakers, white South Africans and Europeans, South Africans and Europeans, taking a program that exists to taking a program that exists to save lives, the most save lives, the most marginalized, at-risk people on marginalized, at-risk people on Earth, and turning it into what Earth, and turning it into what Times calls Trump's vision of Times calls Trump's vision of immigration to help mostly immigration to help mostly white people who say they are white people who say they are being persecuted while keeping being persecuted while keeping the vast majority of other the vast majority of other people out. It's all plain as people out. It's all plain as day, whether it's in a private day, whether it's in a private chat or in public. This is what chat or in public. This is what we got. This is the world Trump we got. This is the world Trump is building. And the young is building. And the young Republicans in that chat and Republicans in that chat and the halls of Congress have the halls of Congress have clearly gotten the memo. clearly gotten the memo. They're already working in the They're already working in the party in state capitals and party in state capitals and executive offices. They