A political realignment is occurring where rising Democrats are embracing the American military, while Republicans, particularly under Trump, are seen as devaluing service members. This flips traditional party-line assumptions about military support.
The practice of removing experienced, credentialed diplomats and civil servants in favor of loyalists has gutted America's ability to execute complex tasks, from foreign policy to domestic administration. This decline is now becoming painfully obvious.
Heather Cox Richardson argues that Trump's hallmark isn't just being a con man, but finding workarounds to rules. This resonates with followers who view it not as corruption, but as 'smart business,' which fundamentally denigrates the rule of law.
Scott Galloway posits that proximity to Donald Trump is politically radioactive. With few exceptions, anyone who serves in his administration or aligns closely with him suffers irreparable damage to their political future, effectively destroying the Republican bench of viable candidates.
Historian Heather Cox Richardson rejects the 'great man' theory, arguing that transformative leaders like Abraham Lincoln don't just appear. Instead, they are the product of a popular intellectual ferment that crystallizes into a new ideology, which a skillful politician then articulates.
Using the historical example of President James Buchanan, who was abroad during a heated domestic period, Heather Cox Richardson suggests a viable GOP candidate could emerge by staying out of the current political fray. This allows them to appear untainted by the turmoil.
Attempting to convert die-hard political opponents is futile. Real societal change comes from mobilizing the vast pool of non-voters. This is achieved not by national ideological debate, but by informing them about tangible, local issues that directly impact their lives.
While the consolidation of wealth and power mirrors the Gilded Age, today's influential figures differ critically. Unlike their historical counterparts who still believed in the American system, a modern 'cabal' is actively trying to destroy democracy and the post-WWII global order.
The modern political spectrum has shifted so far right that even progressive Democrats hold positions to the right of Republican President Eisenhower. His policies, like a 91% top tax bracket and calls for universal healthcare, would be considered radical today.