Tarlov and Couric Discuss DeSantis Strategy
Governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas are making waves—and earning some unexpected praise—for their bold and controversial strategy in addressing the nation’s border crisis.
What started as a move sharply criticized by Democrats and media alike has now drawn an eye-opening admission from two prominent liberal voices: shipping illegal immigrants to Democrat-led states may have been a stroke of political genius.
Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic political strategist, and former talk show host Katie Couric, both acknowledged the impact of these actions, with Tarlov calling the bussing initiative “the smartest thing [Republicans] ever did.”
Couric admitted that the mainstream media ignored the immigration crisis “at its peril,” even recounting how a friend in Florida supported DeSantis’ bold approach. Their comments underscore how these tactics forced the immigration issue out of the shadows and into the national spotlight.
Katie Couric and Jessica Tarlov admit Republicans sending illegals to blue cities worked. Call it the “smartest thing they ever did.”
Correct. The only way to make left-wingers change is to have them suffer the results of their own policies.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) December 13, 2024
The strategy itself was as provocative as it was calculated. DeSantis and Abbott targeted high-profile “sanctuary cities” and Democratic strongholds like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Martha’s Vineyard. By sending busloads of undocumented immigrants—sometimes dozens, sometimes hundreds—to these areas, the governors aimed to expose what they saw as the hypocrisy of progressive immigration policies.
If Democratic leaders were going to champion open borders and sanctuary protections, they argued, they should be prepared to bear the logistical and financial burdens as well.
The result? A political firestorm. Democrats accused the governors of inhumanity and using migrants as political pawns. Advocates called the moves cruel and exploitative. But the tactic also succeeded in sparking a national conversation, forcing progressive leaders to confront the real-world consequences of their policies. Resources in cities like New York and Chicago were quickly strained, and the strain rippled through law enforcement, housing, and healthcare systems—underscoring exactly what border states had been experiencing for years.
DeSantis’ efforts to fly migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 may have been the most talked-about moment. The small, affluent community was overwhelmed by just 50 migrants, leading to a swift relocation effort and a national debate about who should bear responsibility for undocumented immigrants. Abbott, meanwhile, began his bussing initiative as early as 2021, sending thousands of migrants to Democrat-led cities as part of his broader border security measures.