Trump 2.0 Agenda Takes Shape – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - January 12, 2025
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
Trump 2.0 Agenda Takes Shape – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - January 12, 2025
“Trump’s Legal Wrap Up” – As scheduled, Donald Trump was sentenced in his criminal hush money case in New York on Friday. He was convicted of 34 felonies, and while the judge upheld those convictions, he issued no punishments or sanctions on Trump who appeared virtually. Even without penalties, Trump posted to his Truth Social platform saying, "Today’s event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice.” Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the courtroom that Trump's "unrelenting attacks against this court and their families" have been "a direct attack on the rule of law" and threaten the criminal justice system itself.
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“A Supreme Fight” – Trump’s attorneys failed Thursday night to stop the sentencing. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the New York court could proceed, even though Trump’s lawyers said, "Most fundamentally, forcing President Trump to defend a criminal case and appear for a criminal sentencing hearing at the apex of the Presidential transition creates a constitutionally intolerable risk of disruption to national security and America's vital interests.” On a 5-4 vote, the high court voted against Team Trump. Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump appointee Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three Democrat appointees in saying no. So, what’s next? Nothing! Trump’s conviction will be an afterthought. He won a second term and his party controls the Senate and House. He will try to pass much of his agenda in one single bill, or two, but that may be a challenge. The felonies will be an asterisk in the history books.
“A Gulf Too Far?” - At a news conference this past week, President-elect Trump doubled down on his agenda to retake control of the Panama Canal Zone; make Canada the 51st state; and, to acquire Greenland from Denmark. But he added that he would also put forth an effort to rename the Gulf of Mexico, as the Gulf of America. Trump said, “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America. What a beautiful name and it’s appropriate.” Trump is also promising 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, because of the number of migrants and lethal fentanyl coming into the U.S. from across both borders.
“Can He Change the Name?” – Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) Georgia immediately jumped on the bandwagon saying, “I’ll be introducing legislation ASAP to officially change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to its rightful name, the Gulf of America!” Greene assumes Congress has the authority, but it may likely be able to only offer an opinion. In 2015, President Barack Obama renamed Mt. McKinley in Alaska, to Mt. Denali. But that land is 100 percent in U.S. territory, whereas the Gulf of Mexico shares its waters with a number of bordering countries. Spain first named the body of water in 1607, long before the United States existed. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names, a division of the U.S. Geological Survey, has the ability to change the name, but other countries don’t have to abide by that.
“What’s Really Going on Here?” – Look at its very basis, this whole renaming notion is part of presidential gamesmanship. Departing President Joe Biden signed an executive action last Monday, banning offshore oil drilling in 625 million acres of coastal waters, including sections of the Gulf of Mexico. President Trump ran as the GOP nominee three times on an oil and gas policy he affectionately called, “Drill baby, drill!” On his first day back in office, Trump can sign his own executive action, rescinding the ban Biden just put into effect. Check, and checkmate!
“Can Trump Impose Tariffs on His Own?” – No…, but yes. This is complicated. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, states that, "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties…To regulate commerce with foreign nations." But Congress can also selectively delegate tariff-setting authority to the president, which it has done for decades. For example, fifty years ago Congress passed Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, under which the president may impose retaliatory tariffs when, "an act policy, or practice of a foreign country … violates, or is inconsistent with, the provisions of, or otherwise denies benefits to the United States under, any trade agreement, or … is unjustifiable and burdens or restricts United States commerce." Trump says illegal immigration and the fentanyl trade gives him the authority to levy tariffs. I suspect a federal court fight is coming.
“Farewell President Jimmy Carter!” – Overall, I thought the network coverage of former President Jimmy Carter’s various services was exceptionally well done. Yes, there was some excessive fawning by some, but I think many commentators and histories got it right. Few sugarcoated the troubles and failings of the Carter presidency that led to his landslide defeat in 1980. And I think these same pundits got it right talking about the greatness of Carter’s contributions in his 44-year post-presidency, which is the longest in U.S. history. Like most of us, his life and career were marked by failures and successes, but I believe he always led with good intentions.
“From Bitter Rivals to Dear Friends” – It was a wonderful week of memorials and tributes to Carter. But my favorite moment was when the late President Gerald Ford’s son Steven, read his dad’s posthumous eulogy to Carter. “According to a map, it’s a long way between Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Plains, Georgia. But distances have a way of vanishing when measured in values, rather than miles. And it was because of our shared values, that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries, even before we cherished one another as dear friends.”
“A Farewell to Political Arms” - Ford and Carter were bitter enemies, in the close, brutal election of 1976 which I remember vividly as I was a senior in high school. It was the first post-Watergate, and post-Vietnam War election, and the nation’s emotions were raw. Wounds did not heal until 1981 when President Ronald Reagan (who had defeated them both), asked them to represent the U.S. at the funeral for slain Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. As their friendship built from that flight, Ford and Carter had agreed to speak at each other’s funeral, no matter who died first. Carter spoke at Ford’s in 2006, and then Ford spoke from the grave this week saying, “As for myself, Jimmy, I’m looking forward to our reunion. We have much to catch up on. Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome home, old friend.”
“The GOP Response” – I thought the bipartisan nature of the tributes was touching. Having House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) Louisiana, and Senate President John Thune (R) South Dakota deliver speeches as Carter lay in state on the Capitol Rotunda was appropriate. Not everyone agrees with me. "It's making my skin crawl that John Thune and Mike Johnson are making speeches for former President Jimmy Carter," artist Candee Corliss told MSN.com. Another critic called the GOP speeches, “an abomination.” I disagree. They were classy and heartfelt. Speaker Johnson did have one glitch, referring once to Carter’s Army service, but the rest of the time correctly mentioned Carter’s service in the Navy. To the critics I say this: “What if no Republicans spoke in honor of Carter?” I think people would rightfully be outraged and offended. It’s a rare moment in this country when both sides of the aisle could come together to honor a distinguished American! I mean, even Barack Obama and Donald Trump sat together and appeared to enjoy each other’s company!