Trump’s Strategy for Iran and the New Direction for Post-Biden Democrats
Foreign desk: What’s Don’s Iran Play?
No group’s fortunes have undergone “a more dramatic turn” than those of “Iran and its Axis of Resistance,” notes Jay Solomon at The Free Press. “At the start of 2024, the Islamic Republic seemed poised to become a nuclear state—and its proxies appeared to dominate the Middle East.” That picture has changed substantially. The big question is how the White House will respond come late January. “The president-elect has assembled a team of Iran hawks and has threatened to bomb Iran into ‘smithereens.’” However, he also promised to withdraw U.S. involvement from Middle Eastern conflicts. Given that “Israel’s military actions against Iran” have revealed previously unnoticed vulnerabilities, will Trump’s “hawks” or the more isolationist voices have the greater influence?
Pollster: Post-Biden Democrats Need a Reset
“The Democratic Party has clearly lost its way,” observes Mark Penn at Fox News. Back in the ’90s, Democratic President Bill Clinton advocated for policies like Pell Grants with B average requirements and stringent welfare measures. Under President Biden, “the border has been opened wide,” Democrats “passed massive spending bills disguised with COVID-19 measures, flooding trillions into climate change initiatives,” and the Justice Department “became a champion of progressive policies.” Furthermore, Biden’s perplexing decision to commute “the sentences of 37 murderers guilty of heinous crimes” further underscores the necessity for “a reset within the Democratic Party.”
From the left: Culture Stands Kill Dem Brand
“Proposing fair trade, a robust safety net, and higher taxes on the wealthy will not resolve the Democrats’ issues with middle America and many working-class voters,” warns John B. Judis at the Liberal Patriot, given that the party’s image revolves around defunding the police, “allowing males who identify as women to compete in women’s sports,” “decriminalizing border crossings,” and “intense climate change regulations.” Indeed, “issues related to crime, immigration, and gender within the Democratic platform had a more significant impact on swaying voters to Trump than economic factors.” Democrats must “swiftly reform” their national image, but it will be a “challenging task.” The Democratic National Committee stands as a “weak” entity in dire need of a new chair who “can take decisive actions to redirect the party’s course.”
Libertarian: Joe’s Self-Damning Steel Stunt
“Blocking the acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel serves as a fitting end to President Joe Biden’s political career,” reflects Eric Boehm at Reason. He claims there is “credible evidence” suggesting the deal “threatens national security,” yet fails “to provide any substantial evidence” — “it’s absurd to assert that Nippon Steel, a publicly listed company from a close U.S. ally (Japan) that already operates numerous facilities in the U.S., poses any threat.” In fact, “Nippon’s proposal to purchase U.S. Steel included a commitment to invest over $1 billion in upgrading existing plants.” This is simply a political maneuver benefiting a friend, namely the leaders of the United Steelworkers union, even though many of its members were in favor of the transaction.
From the right: The Key Deportation Tool
President-elect Trump’s “dedication to mass deportations may be unwavering, but achieving this goal necessitates utilizing a powerful resource that his predecessors overlooked: E-Verify,” asserts Hayden Ludwig at RealClearPolitics. “Employers can utilize” the federal service “to verify employees’ eligibility to work across America.” “Around 75% of the illegal migrant population in the U.S. is part of the labor force. Without employment, most will depart,” and “encouraging self-deportation is the simplest and most effective method for removing them from the nation. However, this approach relies on universal and mandatory implementation, which currently exists in just 10 states.” The bottom line: “There’s no reason that President Trump and the new Republican Congress shouldn’t mandate E-Verify for every employer in all 50 states.”
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
