images collection #05 - They re Eating the Dogs They're Eating the Cats

Donald Trump named Springfield, Ohio, as his first target for mass deportations. He claimed that Haitian immigrants there were eating pets.

In September 2024, Anne and Ron Kilgore's beloved cat, Miss Sassy, went missing. The couple, who have lived in Springfield for years, were devastated. A few days later, their daughter found something in the trash that looked disturbingly like animal skin. Alarmed, Anne called the police, who filed a report. Somehow, that report ended up in the hands of JD Vance's team. They were eager to hear more about the "cat story" and even left Anne a voicemail asking for details. But when she tried calling back, no one ever picked up.
Miss Sassy unexpectedly became part of Trump's political theater. During his TV debate with Kamala Harris, he claimed that "the ones coming in" were eating cats and dogs-a clear dog whistle to his far-right supporters. The message was obvious: outsiders are strange, dangerous and threatening. They don't just take jobs and homes; they eat our pets.

It's a familiar narrative to the Kilgores, who rely on Social Security and disability payments and struggle to afford their rent and daily food. This kind of storytelling is at the heart of populist politics. Imagery is crucial in populist politics; a vivid picture-one that tugs at emotions communicates far more effectively than complex, technical policy discussions. Trump, a master of entertainment, understands this well, making it much harder for his political opponents to respond effectively. Countering one image with another image does not solve political The Democrats' response-framing the other side as "weird people" who
"want to take books away" and "be in your exam room"-did not address the Kilgores' problems and only reinforced Trump's entertainment-driven approach.

And Miss Sassy? She was found a week later, trapped under the floor of a shed.
Background Information about the USA go to: More Perfect Union'