Months ago, I decided to go through all 117 Trump campaign rallies from 2023-2024. Each event is about 90 minutes long, so it’s been quite an undertaking. I’ve only gotten through 72.

I wanted to see patterns in how he spun his exaggerations and lies to send his followers down the MAGA rabbit hole. Although Trump is a natural salesman in many ways, he’s had so many business failures that it’s astounding that he was able to transfix about one-third of this country.

After failing to sell steaks, bottled water, vodka, supplements, mortgages, cologne, shuttle flights, a board game and a gambling experience at luxurious casinos Trump finally found his magical elixir for the masses - xenophobia.

The hatred of immigrants, foreigners or anyone who is seen as different was the ultimate Trump product.

Just as fascist leaders have scapegoated marginal groups in the past Donald J. Trump took aim at the most vulnerable.

He created a mythology that included world leaders purposefully trafficking hardened criminals past our borders to sow chaos and unrest.

Every social ill in the United States was caused by immigrants - high housing costs, unemployment, violent crime and the disintegration of what Trump called the American dream.

The only solution was to seal off the border, expel the outsiders and attack trade partners with punitive tariffs. Transgender folks were also thrown on the pyre of hatred.

As more Americans are souring on Trump Fox News is falling back on his old tactics. In the last few weeks before the midterm elections the network has ramped up hatred and fear towards Somali Americans and Muslims.

Xenophobia is old hat for Fox News. The network has enthusiastically trashed and smeared immigrants for years.