The second administration of Donald Trump has been a cascade of chaos, drama, and non-stop disruptions of everything that had been done by previous administrations. We have witnessed the chainsaw cuts by DOGE, new tariffs, bombings, renovations, ICE arrests, attacks on the Fed, attacks on the press, and a new war in the Middle East. I am writing this in the spring, and I am sure there will be drama and events between now and the election that are beyond my imagination.
The midterm elections will be a referendum on the performance of the Trump administration. Some are saying that he has become so unpopular that the Democrats have a chance to take control of both houses of Congress. Predictions about the downfall of Trump have often been incorrect. Many people are worried that, since Trump is aware he could lose, he will do everything he can, legally, quasi-legally, and perhaps illegally, to influence the election.
This course will begin three weeks before the election and conclude three weeks after. We will follow many state legislative, gubernatorial, and House and Senate races. We will try to define which issues are resonating with voters. We will watch for possible attacks on the electoral process. After the election, we will discuss who won, why, and what it means for the country and our future.
For the eighth time in ten years, we can safely say that there has never been a more consequential election than this one. We welcome different perspectives and different opinions for lively, but always respectful discussions.
I will send information from various sources about different races in different places. The class will be expected to find some of their own information from sources of their choice. We will discuss what we are learning about local, state, and national races. After the election, we will pick up the pieces and try to make sense of what happened. Weekly preparation will be as much as anyone wishes.
Please note the different class meeting dates for this course, and that it meets during break week.