If it strikes you as odd that Donald Trump would broadcast the timing of upcoming migrant roundups, think about the real reason. It’s just about red meat for the base and it’s one hell of an expensive campaign commercial.

The New Republic writes:

“Trump, ever the reality-TV showman, governs through spectacle. What could be more spectacular than a massive nationwide raid against undocumented immigrants? Set aside the morality or ethics for a moment, as the president regularly does. Sunday’s planned arrests of more than 2,000 families are a pitch-perfect sop to his base as he gears up for reelection. Cable news will buzz for days with footage of immigrants being apprehended and ICE agents banging on doors. It’s the most expensive campaign ad in American history.“

Remember when Trump chastised the mayor of Oakland for publicized pending ICE raids. From Time:

“When Oakland, Calif., Mayor Libby Schaaf warned residents of an upcoming raid by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in 2018, President Donald Trump called it a “disgrace to our nation.” Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited ICE officials’ estimates claiming the warning allowed 800 “wanted criminals” to evade arrest.

“Here’s my message to Mayor Schaaf — how dare you, how dare you needlessly endanger the lives of our law enforcement officers to promote a radical open borders agenda,” he said at a law enforcement conference in California a week and a half later.“

But that was then, and now Trump is doing the same thing. But the scale is actually very small. Of the ten and a half million undocumented immigrants, Sunday’s raids will net two thousand, or that was the goal.

“U.S. immigration officials no longer have the element of surprise, thanks to Trump’s tweets and internal leaks to news outlets; Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday urged House Democrats to inform their undocumented constituents about their right to refuse to allow ICE agents into their homes. And removing those who are detained will still be difficult. Immigration lawyers will try to reopen their cases, stalling deportation while legal proceedings continue.“

This post contains analysis and opinion.