The adoption of an America First strategy today would have a different effect on global stability than it would have had 80 years ago, when the U.S.A. was yet to walk upon the world stage. Today isolationism would signal the collapse of the United States as a super-power.
Rather than stay in the Freedom Caucus’ cage, Mike Johnson has used it to govern. Instead of simply accepting the lot of a frozen House, he has assembled those majorities by reaching across the aisle to Democrats.
Voters of all persuasions were downbeat about the state of the country and its immediate prospects: nearly two thirds in my 10,000-sample survey said they thought America was heading in the wrong direction.
For him and his team, the border will be a key priority. It could be the thing that propels them to the White House. In the last month alone, there were an estimated 300,000 illegal crossings across the southern border.
If you are an Atlanticist, a supporter of NATO, an ally of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, it would be truly extraordinary to support him over Biden.
As we vote by state, the national polling averages mean little. Drilling down to the swing states, it is crystal clear that if the election were held today, the former President would win a clear victory.
The best chance to beat Trump has been the same since the start of the contest: not via Nikki Haley, but through Ron DeSantis. Polls show he is the only candidate who can win Trump supporters as well as Trump sceptics.
What is it that justifies universal adult participation in democracy – and the market place – on equal terms? It’s not anything one can find in Nietzsche, but rather the essentially Christian belief that all lives matter.
Republican challengers are putting their own egos ahead of any coordinated effort to beat the former president, whilst any move against Biden are likely to come later, at the Democratic National Convention.
It looks like there is a deal to be done where the proposed $60 billion package is paired with major reform of America’s porous southern border.
Yet unlike insurgent parties in other countries, the Conservatives have time and again made themselves the party of a status quo that serves only the interests of older voters.
In domestic policy, we are headed for the real deal. Trump’s campaign staff have been briefing for months that, this time, deep state officials will not stand in their way.
The former lean towards the idea that American interests are best served by defending freedom and democracy around the world; the latter that US interests are best served by using our resources to improve life for ordinary Americans at home.
Travelling around America, it is always interesting to meet and listen to Trump voters who are not straight out of the liberal conception of MAGA central casting.