Bill —
Tuesday’s State of the Union was another reminder of how divided Washington has become. Instead of laying out a vision that spoke to the whole country, the President spent much of the speech framing the moment as Republicans versus Democrats. (Independents anyone?) At times he talked down to Democrats and suggested they were the problem rather than partners in governing. That kind of language may excite partisans, but it does not lower costs, secure the border, strengthen families, or rebuild trust. Many Americans already feel the country is on the wrong track, and they are tired of politics that puts winning over working together.
The President also outlined some of his legislative agenda for the year ahead. He urged Congress to codify his plans to reduce prescription drug prices, fully fund DHS, enact election reforms, ban Congressional stock trading and pursue other major policy changes. Forward believes these ideas should be aired openly with honest debate and real cost estimates, not used as partisan talking points. Important changes to taxes, spending, elections, and immigration policy affect every American. Congress should treat these issues with seriousness and work across party lines to find solutions.
There were parts of the speech we welcomed. The President’s proposal to expand retirement savings accounts could help more workers build long-term financial security. People deserve better tools to save and invest for their future. We also support the idea of restricting members of Congress from trading individual stocks so that public service is not a path to personal profit. Forward will push lawmakers in both parties to build upon good ideas such as these and make them a reality.
The speech included a number of claims that were exaggerated or did not hold up to scrutiny. Independent fact-checkers found that the President’s statements about economic growth, investment figures, jobs, and border security did not match the available data. For example, his claim that he had secured more than $18 trillion in new investment was far higher than the actual numbers reported by the White House and analysts. Other claims about record-low crime, instantly falling gas prices, or ending multiple wars were either misleading or overstated when checked against official data and outside reporting. These kinds of broad, unsupported statements make it harder for the public to have an honest conversation about how well policies are working and what should come next.
On the ceremonial side, the President honored several Americans for service and sacrifice, and those moments deserve recognition. He awarded the Medal of Honor to Captain Royce Williams, a 100-year-old Navy veteran, and to Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, a wounded Army helicopter pilot. He announced the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Olympic hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for helping bring home gold. He presented the Legion of Merit to Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan for saving lives during devastating floods in Texas. And he recognized Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and Specialist Sarah Beckstrom with Purple Hearts for their service after Specialist Beckstrom was killed and Staff Sergeant Wolfe severely injured in an attack on the streets of Washington, D.C. These individuals represent courage and sacrifice that all Americans can respect.
But most families are focused on everyday costs that keep going up. Groceries cost more. Housing costs more. Some types of Energy cost more. People feel squeezed and are looking for real relief. Respected voices across the political spectrum have warned that dismissing concerns about affordability is out of touch with reality. Forward believes affordability is not a talking point. It is the daily reality for millions of Americans. Congress needs to stop ceding its authority to the WH or trying to score points and start working together on real solutions that lower costs and expand opportunity.
There were uplifting moments, like honoring our brave troops and celebrating Americans’ achievements. But unity requires leaders who respect differences and refuse to treat political opponents as enemies. Forward will continue to call for calm, practical leadership from our officials and recruit candidates focused on solving problems and strengthening trust. Americans deserve a government that isn’t so at odds with itself that it can’t solve problems.
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Control of Voting – If Trump Is Ousted: Does It Die on the Vine?
Control of Voting – If Trump Is Ousted: Does It Die on the Vine?
Not entirely, it would slow at the federal level, but these efforts are bigger than one person. Project 2025 isn’t just a Trump playbook; it’s a Heritage Foundation-led blueprint from over 100 conservative groups, predating his second term. By October 2025, Trump had implemented ~47% of its domestic agenda (e.g., workforce cuts via shutdown, executive orders on election “integrity”).
If impeached/removed:
Federal Slowdown: A new admin (e.g., under Vance or a Democrat post-midterms) could reverse executive orders, like Biden did with Trump’s first-term policies. DOJ probes into “fraud” might halt, and appointees like Cleta Mitchell’s network could be ousted. But some changes (e.g., embedded federal observers, voter roll purges) could linger if not actively undone, per experts at the Center for American Progress.
State and Local Persistence: Much of this is decentralized. GOP-led states have passed 100+ “integrity” laws since 2020 (e.g., voter ID, mail ballot restrictions), independent of Trump. Groups like the Election Integrity Network or RNC’s Protect the Vote operate at grassroots levels, training poll watchers and filing lawsuits, stuff that doesn’t vanish overnight. Even without Trump, red states resist federal overreach (e.g., some GOP secretaries of state withholding full voter data from DOJ).
Think Tank and Donor Networks: Heritage, Federalist Society, and funders like Leonard Leo would pivot. Project 2025 is framed as a “conservative promise” for any GOP admin, not Trump-specific. If Trump goes, they’d rebrand for 2028 (e.g., focusing on state ballot initiatives, litigation).
It wouldn’t “die quickly”—more like a temporary federal retreat, with momentum shifting to states and courts. Post-2020, GOP election denialism rewarded incumbents (e.g., no electoral penalty for “stop the steal” supporters in 2022). But backlash (e.g., bipartisan criticism of Georgia raids) could erode support if overreach backfires.
Will They Shift Gears?
Absolutely, conservative networks are adaptive. Without Trump, tactics might soften federally (e.g., less overt “nationalization” talk) but intensify locally: more state laws, voter challenges, or “audit” pushes. X chatter and op-eds suggest prepping for 2028 census fights or midterms as a “blue tsunami” opportunity for Dems. Critics (ACLU, Brennan) warn it could evolve into subtler subversion, like weakening DOJ voting rights enforcement.
In my view, this is a long-game ecosystem (think tanks, donors, state parties) that’s survived presidents before. Trump’s a catalyst, but removal would force a tactical reset—not abandonment. The midterms are the pivot point; if GOP holds, it accelerates. If not, it decentralizes.
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