Recently, MSNBC aired a segment featuring Elie Mystal, whose commentary on new Supreme Court rulings seemed to leap into the realm of the absurd.
Mystal began his discussion with a provocative scenario: “Imagine Donald Trump wants to murder you.”
This kind of rhetoric appears designed to incite emotional reactions rather than provide thoughtful analysis. It serves to heighten tensions and, frankly, borders on the irrational.
It’s time for individuals like Mystal to reconsider their roles in the news analysis arena.
Transcript via Real Clear Politics:
ELIE MYSTAL: Picture this: Donald Trump has sinister plans against you. Ali Velshi, let’s say he wants to murder you. Imagine he and Stephen Miller craft an elaborate policy that allows them to target Canadian journalists in America because they’re supposedly stealing jobs from true American journalists. So, in this scenario, he’s out to murder you.
You, Ali Velshi, decide to take legal action. You approach the Southern District of New York, arguing, “I don’t think this murder scheme is constitutional. It’s clearly illegal and unconstitutional. Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, and Stephen Miller shouldn’t have a plan to end my life.”
And the court responds, “You’re correct, Ali Velshi. There’s no way Donald Trump can legally murder you. We’ll issue an injunction to halt any executive order that would allow him to do so.”
Relieved, you head home.
But then Pat Kiernan appears, saying, “What about me? I’m also Canadian.” Ashleigh Banfield chimes in, “I’m Canadian too—what’s my status?”
The courts reply, “Unfortunately, I can’t assist you because Ali Velshi was the one who filed the lawsuit. Pat Kiernan, if you wish to avoid being murdered, you’ll need to initiate your own lawsuit in the Southern District of New York.”
Here’s the video:
In a bizarre explanation, Elie Mystal discusses the SCOTUS ruling on nationwide injunctions by framing a scenario where Trump could plot to murder individuals.
“Imagine Donald Trump wants to murder you…”
Just typical, rational discourse coming from MSNBC.
As sane as ever.
Completely normal. pic.twitter.com/Ql1ZEHq78z
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) June 28, 2025
This kind of rhetoric does little to enlighten or assist the public; it merely perpetuates a cycle of sensationalism that needs to be curtailed.
