House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told senior Democrats this week that she does not want to impeach President Trump, she wants to see him “in prison,” according to reports.

Before you walk away believing the country’s most powerful Democrat really fantasized about imprisoning her chief political opponent, allow me to offer a theory about what is really going on: Pelosi’s alleged remarks, which were reported first by Politico, are part of a carefully planted narrative that allows her to look tough on Trump without actually having to do anything about him. The idea is to tell the Democratic base that Pelosi is “with them,” without also jeopardizing her party’s chances in the upcoming elections.