As Americans tire of Donald Trump, a Democratic midterm ‘tsunami’ could sweep the GOP out of power

It was a wake-up call for America. In January, Donald Trump took the oath of office, declared himself “saved by God to make America great again” and issued a barrage of executive orders. In the ensuing months the US president and his allies moved at breakneck speed and seemed indomitable.

But as 2025 draws to a close with Trump struggling to stay awake at meetings, the prevailing image is of a driver asleep at the wheel. Opinion polls suggest that Americans are turning against him. Republicans are heading for the exit ahead of congressional contests next November that look bleak for the president’s party.

“He came into office and, like a blitzkrieg, was violating laws and the constitution,” said Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. “The American political process is slow-moving and so he was able to do things that were extraordinary.

  • TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    9 hours ago

    The DNC never seems to undo the damage the GOP does, while continuing some choice parts of their horrors.

    It feels like they work as the arresting mechanism on a ratchet and the only way the country is allowed to move is towards fascism.

    I’d be eager to see some candidate come into office and use these same techniques the GOP does to actually fix shit and improve people’s lives in a meaningful way. The GOP are going to say that they’re a radical leftist authoritarian regardless of their actions, might as well be one

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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      5 hours ago

      The DNC never seems to undo the damage the GOP does,

      It takes a lot more time, effort and money to repair something than it does to break it.

      I remember Biden trying multiple times to reduce student debt, only to be thwarted by the Republicans.

      The wheels of justice were grinding along at their normal slow pace to convict Trump of some of his provable crimes, all the while being interfered with by Republicans and their nominees.

      It takes time to do things the right way. Especially when troublemakers are constantly shoving sticks into the spokes.

      It was moving forward, just much more slowly than people wanted

      • TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        2 hours ago

        I’ve heard this tired excuse since I can remember understanding any element of politics.

        Simply, a system is what it does.

        If “the right way” can only seem to continue to concentrate wealth upwards, conduct horrors in the name of peace across the globe and continue to squash the rights and lives of the hard working people that make the gears of society turn, well, then it doesn’t seem like it’s “the right way” for a vast majority of people.

    • DagwoodIII@piefed.social
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      6 hours ago

      Try looking at some recent history.

      Obama came in with both Houses, and barely got the Affordable Care Act passed.

      If you want a strong Dem majority you have to fight harder.

      The GOP will block anything it can.

      • josephc@lemmy.ml
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        4 hours ago

        Adding on to that:

        Obama had only the house for the first two years. The Senate has the filibuster rule which means control takes 60 seats.

        On January 20th, 2009, 57 Senate seats were held by Democrats with two Independents (Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman) caucusing with the Democrats for 59 kinda’ Democrat-ish votes in the Senate. Two more needed for “both houses”.

        Also, that included Ted Kennedy and Al Franken. Kennedy had a seizure basically at the start and never returned to vote. Al Franken wasn’t seated until July 7th, 2009 because of repeated recounts.

        So really 57 Senate seats. Three or four more for him to have both houses.

        Kennedy was replaced by Paul Kirk in September and three other people swapped parties. So Obama had full control of the House and Senate from September 24, 2009 through February 4, 2010.

        Four months.

        If you’re looking at that and thinking, “isn’t that when they wrote and passed the ACA?” then you’ve got a good eye and a better memory.

      • crusa187@lemmy.ml
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        4 hours ago

        Good thing Biden gave away the public option before negotiations even began, otherwise us Americans wouldn’t be paying 3-4x plus in medical expenses thanks to this broken and corrupt insurance industry.

        Surely part of Biden’s incredible popularity was his promise to add public option, instead of the far more sensible M4A, on day one of his term. After he was elected though, he must have forgor…

    • atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works
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      8 hours ago

      This is largely because people like Biden are still in this old school camp of gentlemen’s agreements where you don’t undo what the previous person did because that would be going against voter will or something. It really only works if both parties are trying to move the country forward.

    • GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      The DNC never seems to undo the damage the GOP does, while continuing some choice parts of their horrors.

      100% this! I’ve been on my worthless DINO rep about what the plans are to FIX what has been done, not just STOP anything else from happening - crickets. So I also let her know I’m done with this “vote blue no matter who” shit and the only vote I’d be casting for her seat is if she loses to a primary opponent.