President Trump isn’t just firing off rhetoric with his attacks on the MS-13 gang. The president is cleverly mobilizing his populist base in service of his political interests.

It begins with “animals.” More specifically, with Trump’s description of MS-13 gang members as subhuman “animals” who deserve no mercy or sympathy. But while some have reacted uncomfortably to the “animal” description, I think Trump is onto a political winner here.

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