Is this a threat? Hard to tell, when trying in interpret NewYorkSpeak, a strange language where nothing much is actually a reflection of reality.
“You should quiet down before someone starts playing games with you,...”
Sure sounds like one to me.
It’s a clear message which requires no footnote.
I have to agree with you about the NewYorkSpeak comment.
While a lot of us would see that as a threat, there’s another line of belief where the Dem is telling the Rep “I like you. But you’re dealing with some hard-nosed people here and maybe you should be careful about what you say. I’d hate to see something happen to you.”