Incident Summary - A sitting US Senator, Alex Padilla, was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome [1][2] - Senator Padilla was handcuffed and forced to the ground after attempting to ask questions regarding immigration enforcement actions [1][2] - The incident is described as a "Rubicon crossing moment" and an example of growing authoritarianism [1][5] Political Response - California Governor Gavin Newsome called the incident "outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful" [2] - Former Vice President Kamala Harris described it as a "shameful and stunning abuse of power" [3] - There is criticism of the Republican party's silence regarding the treatment of Senator Padilla [14] Media & Propaganda - Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome allegedly made a false statement on Fox News, claiming Senator Padilla did not identify himself [1][17] - Fox News is accused of creating an "alternative reality" and disseminating propaganda, similar to state media in Russia [18][19] - The incident is seen as part of a larger effort to suppress dissent and control the narrative [21][22] Concerns & Future Implications - There are concerns that the use of military force in cities is becoming normalized [10] - The administration is accused of demonstrating a lack of accountability and disregard for democratic norms [8][9] - The incident raises concerns about the treatment of ordinary citizens, particularly farm workers, cooks, and day laborers [2][10]
Nicolle Wallace calls out Kristi Noem’s lie over Sen. Alex Padilla’s handcuffing and forced removal
MSNBC·2025-06-12 20:46