Presidential History Has a Way of Repeating Itself - “The Sunday Political Brunch”—May 25, 2025
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
Presidential History Has a Way of Repeating Itself - “The Sunday Political Brunch”—May 25, 2025
“Biden Prostate” – First of all, I hope people will rally around former President Biden and his prostate cancer diagnosis. It should be the similar bipartisan support former President Trump received after he was wounded in an assassination attempt last year. Even Biden called Trump directly that night. I realize there are partisans in each opposing party who dismiss such a gesture. But we are Americans first, and I would hope we pray and support for the health and safety of all our leaders. I believe it’s part of the stability of our democracy. Even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Biden’s fiercest critics, posted on X, saying, “I’m sorry to see this news.” She added, “Cancer is truly awful. My Dad passed away in 2021 with cancer. Pray for Joe Biden and his family.” Having lost my mom to cancer when I was 15, I send my prayers to the Biden’s as well.
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“Biden Timing” – There are, though, people suspicious of the timing. The Bidens’ statement on Sunday says his doctors discovered a cancerous nodule on his prostate on Friday, just two days prior. Of course, prior to that, the big political headlines were centered around the pending release of a book critical of Biden’s cognitive abilities during the last two years of his presidency. While I am not a doctor, I know from personal experience that a PSA test is a good detector of prostate cancer. I have one every year, sometimes more. The question is, did the Biden family and White House insiders know for a longer period of time about the cancer, but did not want concerns about his physical health out there when people were also concerned about his mental acuity? With the public release coming out two days before a potentially damaging book, would the timing of the cancer diagnosis counterbalance public opinion with sympathy? Perhaps.
“What History Tells Us” – Biden’s decline is not the first in presidential history, nor is it likely to be the last, with our tendency to elect older, more senior politicians, at all levels of government. In their day, some questioned the fitness of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt in their final terms. But perhaps the most egregious example was President Woodrow Wilson. He suffered a stroke in October 1919, and was severely debilitated in his final 17 months in office. He even planned to run for a third term in 1920, but the convention nominated Gov. James Cox (D) Ohio. In large part, Wilson’s wife and the White House doctor kept him mostly out of public view. The press had little or no access. I find this troubling. As I always say, the presidency does not belong to a person. It belongs to the people, and they have the right to know about the capacity of the office holder, especially in an election year.
“FDR’s Similar Case” – In 1944, the year of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth election bid, White House physician Admiral Ross McIntire said on October 12 that, "The President's health is perfectly OK. There are absolutely no organic difficulties at all." This, despite the fact that a year prior, the same doctor determined that Roosevelt, a heavy smoker, had coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure, among other maladies. So, a White House doctor, who serves at the president’s pleasure, may keep things quiet just to keep his job. Exactly six months after Dr. McIntire’s supposed clean bill of health, President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945.
“Jet Set, Go!” – Despite a lot of people, including me, sounding the alarm bells about a foreign donated jet to be Air Force One, the Trump administration has accepted the plane from Qatar. The Pentagon took ownership of the aircraft, where it will be vetted and scoured for any snooping devices or hidden weapons. My big complaint was that vetting was an awfully tall task and the plane could be a Trojan Horse. I am not alone. Sen. Chris Murphy (D) Connecticut sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said, “It still sounds like a pretty bad idea to have a foreign government outfitting the most highly sensitive plane in the U.S. arsenal.” But Trump called it a money saver on Truth Social, saying, “Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars when they can get it for FREE.”
“Apple Tart?” – The financial markets have been relatively quiet and steady all week, but the impact of another Trump tariff threat on Friday may have an impact in the days to come. The president says he’ll order a 25 percent tariff on all iPhones, unless they are made in the U.S. That’s a clear clasp at China, where most iPhones are made.
“Another Legal Loss, or Was It?” – A federal judge ordered the Trump administration not to deport eight suspected criminal aliens, but the White House deported them to the Sudan anyway. The judge accused the White House of violating a court order, but gave no indication what, if any, sanctions the court could impose. In Boston, Judge Brian E. Murphy said the eight migrants aboard the plane were not given the opportunity to object that the deportation could endanger them. Todd Lyons, the acting Director of ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said, “These represent the true national security threats.” He said the men had been convicted of rape, homicide, armed robbery, and other crimes. I’ll be fascinated by what the Supreme Court says.
“Education Cuts, or No?” – In another loss for the Trump White House, a federal judge has ruled that job cuts and elimination of the U.S. Department of Education cannot move forward. Boston-based Judge Myong Joun said in his ruling that the mass layoffs, “will likely cripple the Department. The idea that Defendants’ actions are merely a ‘reorganization’ is plainly not true.” The judge said things such as special education and financial aid would be harmed. He noted the role of Congress in creating and funding the department. On the other hand, Team Trump defended its actions. Spokesperson Madi Biedermann said, “Once again, a far-left Judge has dramatically overstepped his authority, based on a complaint from biased plaintiffs, and issued an injunction against the obviously lawful efforts to make the Department of Education more efficient and functional for the American people.” This will undoubtedly land at the U.S. Supreme Court, where the role of Congress (or lack thereof) will be a central issue.
“Another Education Question” – Late Thursday Trump issued an order barring Harvard from admitting any more international students. This is court-bound as well. Can the president, or any government authority, dictate the admissions criteria for a private institution (even one that has received federal aid in the past?)
“Big, Beautiful Bill” – By the narrowest of margins, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed President Trump’s all-encompassing “big, beautiful bill.” The vote was 215-214. Two Republicans voted no, and one voted present. It’s noteworthy that three vacant Democrat seats have not been filled, due to deaths. Had those members been alive, the bill would have failed. The bill continues the 2017 Trump tax cuts, but critics say it did not do enough to cut spending and reduce the national debt. The bill faces a very uncertain future in the Senate, where some key Republicans are signaling, they will oppose it. More than anything, these votes indicate how tight the majorities are in both chambers, with Democrats having the opportunity to seize control of both chambers in next year’s midterm elections.
“Be Careful What You Wish For – FEMA Cuts” -- As the “Bull-DOGE-er” continues to plow through cutting federal agencies, there is the cautionary old phrase, “Be careful what you wish for.” Many red-state conservatives backed deep cuts in federal spending, including elimination of agencies such as FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The goal was to cut federal spending and reduce debt. But then disaster strikes and the tune changes. Last week, Missouri was one of three central states devastated by tornadoes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was testifying before Congress this week, when she was questioned by Sen. Josh Hawley (R) Missouri. He said, “The state has pending three requests for major disaster declarations from earlier storms we’ve lost over a dozen people. Well, actually, if you count the folks we lost just on Friday, we’ve lost almost 20 people now in major storms, just in the last two months in Missouri.” Can you call for deep cuts on one hand, and then ask for help with the other?
“Stealth Care – Health Care” -- On another issue, states such as West Virginia are questioning cuts to Medicaid. More than 600,000 people - one-third of West Virginia residents - are on Medicaid. Other, smaller rural states have the same dilemma. It’s just a reminder that what you cut matters to someone, and sometimes, too many people. Cuts to food stamps, known as SNAP, are on the table. “These would be the largest SNAP cuts in history, resulting in food being taken away from those who need it most,” said Bobby Kogan, from the Center for American Progress.
But in the past, President Trump promised, “We're not going to do anything with that (Medicaid), unless we can find some abuse or waste.” Stay tuned for what happens next in the Senate.