I doubt that the debacle in Minneapolis will have a major impact on the midterms. The country did seem to rise up as one to object to the killings there and the Trump administration has responded by rapidly curtailing operations. Assuming that reduction in force continues and nobody else gets killed by the cops, the tragic events of the past couple of weeks won't matter much by November. The unaffordable economy will be the issue that gives the Dems the best chance to catch the big blue wave.
I agree to an extent, but I think the greater harm to this administration from last weekend was the credibility loss. People could finally see through the lies with their own eyes. That's palpable. Most will not forget.
I'm certain that you won't forget but most voters will just return to their normally scheduled programs (assuming that the enforcement process returns to its ordinary routine).
Bob is right that history indicates most individual events dissipate as THE voting issue of a given cycle. But this is cumulative and the proverb about straw and the camel’s back may apply here. One of these January issues could be the straw. We just won’t know for sure until November
Dem Pty Must Become a Centrist Party. I applaud Progressive Goals, but the Main Energy of the Dem Pty MUST BE CENTRIST to Form The Political Machine Necessary to Overcome the Moronic Maga Base, “Take Control of Both Houses” and Ultimately Create a Philosophical Balance in The Supreme Court in the next 10 or 20 years!!!
While I’m not in a position to contribute financially, I want to affirm my full support for the progressive work you’re advancing.
I also have a strategic proposal I hope you’ll consider. I’ve developed a framework designed to help the Democratic Party recapture the Independent Center—A Vital Segment Of The Electorate that’s been largely neglected for the past 20 years.
Without deliberate engagement, the party risks losing the civic energy that T’s unlawful use of military, judicial, and executive powers may be stirring. If we (the Democratic Party) do not confront our legislative shortcomings and as a result fail to regain control of both chambers (well over half the House and at least 60 Senate seats), we will be unable to stop the constitutional erosion T is actively, and to some degree successfully, pursuing.
NPR 2026/2028 (“And Beyond”) Framework builds on the legacy of Vice President Al Gore’s 1993 National Performance Review (NPR), “Which Aimed To Make Government Work Better, Cost Less, And Deliver Results The American Center Cares About AND Needs.” VP Gore’s NPR Streamlined Bureaucracy, Eliminated Outdated Programs, Introduced Performance Metrics and Customer Satisfaction Tools.
It was Bold, Data-Driven and Reform-Minded! Qualities We Must Now Revive and Expand!
A Modern Expansion)of “VP Gore’s NPR Legacy” must go further - "NPR 2026/2028" calls for a National "NPR" Expansion that embraces its "Open Independent Structure" - A Transparent, Modular Platform that Welcomes Principled Reform-Minded Independents And Centrists.
Well as long as we are a two party system, one party is always going to be more reliant on the middle. Our electorate would be better represented if we had four major parties who could never achieve a majority to take power without a second party. But we have four parties stuffed into two
Great perspective. The next 60 days will be telling. Sadly, there’s not enough outrage in red rural Minnesota. You’d be surprised at the number of MAGA still cheering ICE, led by hate-spewing Rep Tom Emmer.
Great piece, Chuck. Changing a mind is very hard to do -- almost impossible. So many narratives already exist with regards to Trump's chaos on the world stage, revenge politics, tariffs, and affordability tone-deafness. I'm not sure this administration has time to course-correct. Seems to me, the damage is already too great. And what happened last weekend just made it a whole lot worse because they just blew what little credibility they had left.
What did Churchill say about us Americans is what I subscribe to and what history shows. “Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.” This could be the moment we realize we’ve exhausted all other options
Superior observation if there ever was one Chuck! "History doesn’t announce its tipping points. It leaves warning signs."
If we could go into the Time Machine toward 50 years, we’d know for sure what we are living through!
Loved the Radar bit at the end. I wrote about this the other day that Minnesotans are NOT happy with the response from the CEOs of Minnesota corporations. https://jeffhallinmn.substack.com/p/remember-this-it-is-our-fault
The MN CEO response was beyond pathetic.
I doubt that the debacle in Minneapolis will have a major impact on the midterms. The country did seem to rise up as one to object to the killings there and the Trump administration has responded by rapidly curtailing operations. Assuming that reduction in force continues and nobody else gets killed by the cops, the tragic events of the past couple of weeks won't matter much by November. The unaffordable economy will be the issue that gives the Dems the best chance to catch the big blue wave.
I agree to an extent, but I think the greater harm to this administration from last weekend was the credibility loss. People could finally see through the lies with their own eyes. That's palpable. Most will not forget.
I'm certain that you won't forget but most voters will just return to their normally scheduled programs (assuming that the enforcement process returns to its ordinary routine).
Bob is right that history indicates most individual events dissipate as THE voting issue of a given cycle. But this is cumulative and the proverb about straw and the camel’s back may apply here. One of these January issues could be the straw. We just won’t know for sure until November
Dem Pty Must Become a Centrist Party. I applaud Progressive Goals, but the Main Energy of the Dem Pty MUST BE CENTRIST to Form The Political Machine Necessary to Overcome the Moronic Maga Base, “Take Control of Both Houses” and Ultimately Create a Philosophical Balance in The Supreme Court in the next 10 or 20 years!!!
While I’m not in a position to contribute financially, I want to affirm my full support for the progressive work you’re advancing.
I also have a strategic proposal I hope you’ll consider. I’ve developed a framework designed to help the Democratic Party recapture the Independent Center—A Vital Segment Of The Electorate that’s been largely neglected for the past 20 years.
Without deliberate engagement, the party risks losing the civic energy that T’s unlawful use of military, judicial, and executive powers may be stirring. If we (the Democratic Party) do not confront our legislative shortcomings and as a result fail to regain control of both chambers (well over half the House and at least 60 Senate seats), we will be unable to stop the constitutional erosion T is actively, and to some degree successfully, pursuing.
NPR 2026/2028 (“And Beyond”) Framework builds on the legacy of Vice President Al Gore’s 1993 National Performance Review (NPR), “Which Aimed To Make Government Work Better, Cost Less, And Deliver Results The American Center Cares About AND Needs.” VP Gore’s NPR Streamlined Bureaucracy, Eliminated Outdated Programs, Introduced Performance Metrics and Customer Satisfaction Tools.
It was Bold, Data-Driven and Reform-Minded! Qualities We Must Now Revive and Expand!
A Modern Expansion)of “VP Gore’s NPR Legacy” must go further - "NPR 2026/2028" calls for a National "NPR" Expansion that embraces its "Open Independent Structure" - A Transparent, Modular Platform that Welcomes Principled Reform-Minded Independents And Centrists.
Well as long as we are a two party system, one party is always going to be more reliant on the middle. Our electorate would be better represented if we had four major parties who could never achieve a majority to take power without a second party. But we have four parties stuffed into two
Great perspective. The next 60 days will be telling. Sadly, there’s not enough outrage in red rural Minnesota. You’d be surprised at the number of MAGA still cheering ICE, led by hate-spewing Rep Tom Emmer.
Maybe not a turning, but inflection point. People are being forced to answer some difficult moral questions, we'll see how they answer.
Great piece, Chuck. Changing a mind is very hard to do -- almost impossible. So many narratives already exist with regards to Trump's chaos on the world stage, revenge politics, tariffs, and affordability tone-deafness. I'm not sure this administration has time to course-correct. Seems to me, the damage is already too great. And what happened last weekend just made it a whole lot worse because they just blew what little credibility they had left.
What did Churchill say about us Americans is what I subscribe to and what history shows. “Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.” This could be the moment we realize we’ve exhausted all other options
Let's hope so. :-)