I was out of the country for the first half of the week. So, it took me a minute to catch up on the Hitler-loving, rape-endorsing group chats of the Young Republicans, as well as our vice president's inaccurate claim that these extremely racist individuals were just a bunch of "kids." (Shoutout to newsletter co-host Julianne McShane for fact-checking that vile excuse.) My reaction has since been the familiar mix of shock and depressing lack of surprise. This is a party proudly led by a bigot, after all.
It was during the same week that word arrived that the Trump administration is considering changing the US's refugee program to favor white people and members of far-right European parties. The move, as my colleague Noah Lanard wrote today, would essentially transform the program into a tool to champion white nationalism.
These might seem like disparate news cycles. But a common thread ties them. To me, the Young Republicans who participated in those Telegram chats seem like exactly the kind of people Trump's possible overhaul of the refugee program might consider granting protection. The New York chapter might be getting disbanded. But their potential future in the Trump administration seems bright, no?
—Inae Oh
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