Yesterday, I broke down the Biden administration’s latest attempt to deflect on the issue by blaming Republicans for “helping the cartels.” How, exactly, are they doing this? It’s quite simple, really. They are blocking the AFT from getting a permanent director.

I wish I was making that up because it’s simply outrageous for them to trot such a weak talking point out and expect us to just sit here and take it. But that is indeed what is happening.

Here’s what the Biden administration told NBC News on the subject:

“MAGA Republican extremism in Congress is a growing threat to the fight against violent crime and fentanyl trafficking. President Biden is working hard to prevent the flow of firearms into the hands of drug cartels, as part of a comprehensive strategy to block the flow of fentanyl into the United States. But hardcore MAGA members of Congress are doing everything they can to thwart these efforts,” Bates said.

Researchers and government officials from both sides of the border have long tried to stop the so-called Iron Pipeline of U.S. guns, often assault-style rifles, that are smuggled into Mexico, where firearms are difficult to purchase legally. U.S. government estimates have found that as many as 70% of guns recovered by Mexican law enforcement agencies originate in the U.S.

“MAGA Republicans in Congress are trying to defund and abolish the ATF, the federal law enforcement agency responsible for helping stop the flow of firearms into the hands of gun traffickers,” Bates said, adding that “assault weapons purchased in the United States are arming drug cartels and enabling them to outgun law enforcement.”

As I mentioned yesterday, the ATF is not the federal agency at the top of the list in fighting the drug crisis in the United States. Where fentanyl is concerned, the front lines are being manned by U.S. Border Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration is supposed to be in charge of the illegal drug problem. The ATF does indeed fight to stop the flow of firearms to drug traffickers, but that agency has been more concerned with turning millions of Americans into felons by passing unnecessary rules on pistol braces rather than actually focusing on drug runners.

We know that the U.S. has been losing on the fentanyl front for years. It’s an issue spanning multiple administrations, and Biden’s seems to be refusing to act in any way. That the fentanyl crisis is exactly that – a crisis – is a failure particularly on Biden because they are more scared of offending Mexico (whose cartels are bringing the drug into our country) and China (who manufactures a lot of the chemicals that go into making fentanyl) than actually dealing with the inflow of the drug into the United States.

And, yes, while the ATF serves a vital role in combatting illegal guns, they aren’t necessary in fighting this war because it isn’t about the guns. It’s about the cartels bringing drugs across our border. To make it about the ATF and then use that to blame Republicans for the ongoing crisis is about as disgusting as it gets. It’s requires those who hear it to ignore reality and buy in completely to the idea that the ATF is vital to fighting a war on a specific drug and that abolishing them would make the problem worse. It’s a nonsensical proposition, but it’s the best the Biden team can come up with.

Keep in mind that Biden and the Democrats are going into an election cycle where they are seen as incredibly weak on border security and crime. Fentanyl in particular is an extremely scary drug because of how addictive it is and how little you need to overdose. The Biden team has to deflect, but they look even weaker with this line of attack. It’s simply absurd.

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