Dakota Beacon

Do Americans distrust the legacy media? Of course they do. Unfortunately, too often these American dissenters have difficulty articulating their skepticism.

The following interview with Stephen Miller, President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security, reportedly took place on CNN on May 30, 2025. Miller’s interview was revived and posted on Facebook September 1, 2026. Many Americans wish they could speak as eloquently as Miller. Listen:

CNN: “This is an undocumented immigrant...”

Stephen Miller: “They were here ILLEGALLY?”

CNN: “I want this to be a good-faith discussion...”

Miller: “When you use language designed to obscure the truth, that’s NOT good faith. An ILLEGAL ALIEN is an ILLEGAL ALIEN. They’re not ‘undocumented immigrants’.”

CNN: “Stephen, we’re trying to humanize the debate...”

Miller: “Humanize? Then let’s humanize the Penal Code too. The bank robber becomes a ‘specialist in unscheduled withdrawals.’ The con artist turns into an ‘entrepreneur of alternative financial narratives.’ The guy who breaks into your house uninvited is just a ‘visitor with pending documentation’. How about that?”

CNN: “That’s a crude analogy.”

Miller: “Crude is pretending federal law vanishes because CNN’s copy desk cooked up a cuddlier euphemism. ‘Undocumented’ sounds like someone who forgot their wallet in an Uber. No. It’s someone who crossed the border without authorization, stayed, and now the press treats the legal statute like it’s a matter of writing style.”

CNN: “But many contribute to the economy...”

Miller: “Ah, the classic argument: crime stops being crime if the person washes dishes or builds roofs. By the same token, the cigarette smuggler ‘contributes’ too, creates jobs in transport. Want us to call him an ‘informal logistics entrepreneur’? Would CNN go for that?”

CNN: “You’re polarizing.”

Miller: “No. I’m rejecting the marketing dictionary. You change the word, then accuse anyone who uses the legal [correct] term of being ‘inhumane’. It’s the oldest trick in the book: first soften the vocabulary, then declare moral victory. The United States is tired of this theater. Call it what it is. Or admit the goal was never clarity -- it was narrative control.”

But who is Stephen Miller? Snippets of his background speak volumes. Born August 23, 1985, he is a bright, outspoken contrarian to say the least. Known as a pugnacious, combative debater at Duke University, he was a columnist for the Duke student newspaper, “The Chronicle”. He was also president of the Duke chapter of Students for Academic Freedom. David Horowitz was his mentor. At one point after university Miller worked as press secretary for Representative Michelle Bachman and later for Senator Jeff Sessions in the same capacity. Miller has been actively involved with, and written for, the Breitbart News Network. He wrote Trump's acceptance speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention. After winning the election, Trump chose Miller to write his inaugural address.

In the CNN remarks cited above, Miller offers an excellent example of liberal twisting of the English language to frame their argument and control the narrative. Artfully used, language indeed may control a narrative. Language may also limit thought by restricting vocabulary thereby affecting critical ideas. Changing definitions alters perception of morality, history, and current events without imposing strict censorship. Applying labels can reallocate blame by converting perpetrators into victims and vice versa.

Think of George Orwell’s classic book “1984” and the term “Newspeak.” Then think of the legacy media’s practice as illustrated in Stephen Miller’s interview on CNN. What a great comparison! (Also, what a delightful book by Orwell!) Newspeak was the official language of Oceania and was deliberately used to limit thought by reducing concepts available to citizens. The “language” helped to maintain authority by making dissent unlikely.

In the run-up to the November mid-term elections, watch what people do (or have done) – not what they say. Actions speak louder than words.

Remember. November 3rd is coming. Choose wisely. Take a legally registered young person with you to vote.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).