MSN’s web portal [FN1] placed under “news” an item w/a stark header that a 1996 video of Rep Nancy Pelosi “Crushes Democrats’ Narrative on Tariffs.” [FN2] This was a popular bit for several voices of the far right. [FN3] Mr Chai also slams Sen Bernie Sanders 1/11

as seeking, in 2008, the same goals as trump’s tariffs today. [FN4] Mr Chai’s is a hit piece based on mischaracterizations. [FN5] A Fox header is accurate: “30 years ago, Nancy Pelosi demanded Congress confront Chinese tariffs on American goods.” [FN6] 2/11

Sen Sanders, in that 2008 video, criticizes taking away restrictions in the name of free trade. The far-right’s panic is understandable. The stock market cratered after trump [FN7] said he’s setting all these tariffs. A more sober assessment of the videos is from Media Matters: 3/11

“[] right-wing apologists are distorting the context of these nearly 30-year-old arguments to pretend that they apply to the current international economic order or have anything to do with Trump’s haphazard lurch into a global trade war... against the entire world... 4/11

in a purported effort to revive jobs that simply no longer exist in the United States..” [FN8] Both Rep Pelosi and Sen Sanders stated problems this country faced. The far right’s disinformation occurs during a week in which Rep Keith Self (R-TX) quoted Joseph Goebbels: 5/11

“During a March 2025 congressional hearing, U.S. Rep. Keith Self, a Republican from Texas, quoted Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels as saying, ‘It is the absolute right of the state to supervise the formation of public opinion.’” [FN9] A far right press helps, too. 6/11

Footnotes:
FN1. “MSN is a web portal and collection of Internet services and apps provided by Microsoft, offering news, weather, sports, finance, and other content, and it's accessible at MSN.com.”
FN2. Chai, Bryan, “Watch: Resurfaced Nancy Pelosi Video Crushes Democrats’ Narrative on Tariffs,” The Western Journal, 04/04/25; accessed on MSN, 0405/25. 7/11

Footnotes:
FN3. “Fox & Friends,” Michael Knowles, & Breitbart, to name a few.
FN4. Mr. Chai refers to Sen Sanders as “spokesman for the leftiest of Democrats.” Id., footnote 2.
FN5. Mr. Chai points out that Pelosi was “looking much younger in 1996" and that the video of Sanders from 2008 “explains why Sanders looks so young.” Id. 8/11

Footnotes:
FN6. Hays, Gabriel, “FLASHBACK: 30 years ago, Nancy Pelosi demanded Congress confront Chinese tariffs on American goods,” Fox, 04/04/25, accessed 04/05/25. 9/11

Footnotes:
FN7. Let’s not forget trump’s econ prof’s assessment of trump as “the dumbest goddamn student I ever had.” olf, J.D., “Trump Shared a Fake Quote From Professor Who Actually Thought Trump Was ‘the Dumbest’ Student,” Meidas News, 05/08/24, accessed 04/05/25. 10/11

Footnotes:
FN8. Pleat, Zachary, “MAGA media distort decades-old clips of Democrats to distract from Trump's tariff chaos,” Media Matters, 04/04/25, accessed 0405/25.
FN9. Rizzo, Jack, “Rep. Keith Self quoted Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels at congressional hearing. Here's the context,” Snopes, 04/04/25, accessed 0405/25. 11/11