Face The Nation: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

 

Margaret Brennan's interviews the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

Interview Clip:

Margaret Brennan (Face The Nation Host):
"On the domestic front, we recently saw the killing of the United Healthcare division CEO on the streets of Manhattan. Manhattan prosecutors called it a killing that was intended to evoke terror. Would you consider him a terrorist? Is this domestic violent extremism?"

Alejandro Mayorkas (Secretary of Homeland Security):
"Well, Margaret, it's not for me to comment on a pending criminal case. I will not do that.

"First of all, let us take a step back and note the tremendous tragedy: a father of two children, a family man, was murdered in New York City in cold blood, first and foremost.

"Secondly, you spoke of the heightened threat environment. The rhetoric on social media following that murder is extraordinarily alarming. It speaks of what is really bubbling here in this country. Unfortunately, we see that manifested in violence.

"The domestic violent extremism that exists—the threat of it in the United States—is one of the great threat streams that we must counter. Of course, there's also the threat of foreign terrorism, as well as the actions of adverse nation-states."

Margaret Brennan:
"When you say something’s bubbling, what’s the national trend that you’re seeing?"

Alejandro Mayorkas:
"Look, we have been concerned about the rhetoric on social media for some time, and that rhetoric spans various targets—CEOs, the government, leadership in general.

"We’ve seen narratives of hate, anti-government sentiment, and personal grievances. The language of violence accompanying or being a part of those narratives is something we’re very concerned about. That is a heightened threat environment.

"I’m still alarmed, though, by the heroism that is being attributed to an alleged murderer of a father of two children on the streets of New York City. A lot of that seems to be centered around the healthcare industry and what that company was doing."

Margaret Brennan:
"It depersonalizes the victims."

Alejandro Mayorkas:
"Yes, the victim is depersonalized. And the victim is a person. The victim is a husband. The victim is a father."

Margaret Brennan:
"I ask you about a trend because often these things are discussed in purely political terms—as political violence. But it seems like you’re saying it’s almost broader."

Alejandro Mayorkas:
"Oh, it is. It is not purely political rhetoric. We see a wide range of narratives that drive some individuals to violence.

"We have a responsibility to understand the threat landscape and see what we can do, working with communities, to prevent that violence from actually occurring."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Moral Injury in U.S. Health Care: Beyond Burnout in the Age of COVID-19

Moral Injury in U.S. Health Care: The Ethical Wounds Behind Burnout Understanding How Systemic Pressures and the COVID-19 Pandemic Deepen Clinicians’ Moral Distress In recent years, doctors and nurses have reported high levels of exhaustion and cynicism – traditionally labeled “burnout” statnews.com – but many experts now argue that this misses the core problem. Instead, a deeper moral injury is at work. Moral injury occurs when clinicians are repeatedly forced to act against their professional and personal values, leaving them with guilt, shame, and a sense of betrayal  statnews.com   pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . This article explores moral injury – a term borrowed from military psychology – and explains how business pressures, staffing shortages, electronic bureaucracy, and especially the COVID-19 crisis have created ethical conflicts in U.S. medicine. We contrast moral injury with burnout, review evidence of its prevalence and harm, and examine proposed responses to heal...
Read more

Why Seniors Should Record Their Doctor Visits

Research Snapshot: How Much Do Seniors Forget? General Findings Patients forget 40–80% of information shared by healthcare providers immediately after a visit—and nearly half of what is remembered can be inaccurate PubMed Central . One classic study reported that patients forgot 56% of their instructions just minutes after leaving the clinic PubMed Central . In another study, only 49% of medical decisions and recommendations were recalled accurately without prompting; prompts helped recall about 36% more , leaving 15% of information incorrectly remembered or forgotten altogether AARP   PLOS . Age-Related Recall Decline Episodic memory (like remembering what the doctor said) declines with age. Studies show a moderate inverse relationship between age and recall, meaning older adults correctly remember significantly less verbal information PubMed Central . Specifically, “older-old” adults (roughly age 80+) recall fewer medication instructions than “younger-ol...
Read more

Navigating the Waves of Caregiving: An Elderly Pastor's Journey Through Unexpected Shocks

Image
  At 80, Mike Faces a Sudden Role Reversal, Revealing the Harsh Realities of Aging, Medical Systems, and Resilience Introduction In a quiet California home, an 80-year-old semi-retired pastor named Mike found himself thrust into the role of full-time caregiver for his wife, Judy, after a sudden medical crisis. Drawing from his experiences chronicled in a personal YouTube video, Mike's story illuminates the profound shocks that accompany late-life caregiving. Inspired by Dedra Edwards's book " Toolkit for Caregivers ," his account serves as a cautionary tale and guide for those approaching or already in their golden years, emphasizing preparation, advocacy, and grace amid uncertainty.
Read more