the Senator's number one priority

so what

are you worried about, the newsman

asks

the Democratic

Senator

heading to El Salvador

to rescue a gangbanger

covered in tattoos,

and gang colors.

who has been in front of nineteen

judges so far.

what plans

do you have in the future

for your constituents?

better roads?

and housing, maybe more

research and money

dedicated to disease and

addictions.

improve the schools and our

children's education?

what exactly do you want to

do during your

term as Senator

to serve your state and country.

what do you want your legacy

to be?

oh, he says.

pausing,

with tears in his eyes.

my number one priority

is to bring back

a known gang member

from his own country,

back to our state,

and set him free.

i don't care if he's

a man who belongs to

MS-13, a man who beats his wife,

and is here illegally.

and is suspected

of human trafficking.

nothing is more important

than this man.

i dedicate my every waking hour

to obtaining his freedom.

the bridges and roads,

education,

and cancer, etc. can wait.

the fate of democracy depends

on this man.